Futile care: Confronting the high costs of dying

The costs of futile care for the dying are great. Futility can present challenges because of the monetary costs of such care, its negative effects on staff members and the burden it creates in allocating limited resources. Administrators can work to recognize and form a better understanding of futility and thus develop strategies for decreasing non-beneficial care. The author discusses issues surrounding futile care and offers suggestions for administrators to decrease spending related to the administration of futile care for the dying.