Still, the unifying factor that is prevalent in both types of physiologic futility is that there is absolutely no chance of recovery or of beneficence to be gained by a particular procedure.

Due to the varying nature of both forms of medical futility, probabilistic and physiologic, the way medical practitioners should deal with these respective situations varies accordingly. In terms of the treatment of probabilistic futility, such practitioners must take account the fact that no matter how remote, there is a possibility of beneficence to be gained by a procedure which is being considered either by the patient or by his family, and must act accordingly. Therefore, a physician or medical staff should not be the sole determinant of a whether such a procedure is undertaken. Instead, medical personnel should consult with either the patient or with his or her family to come to a consensus of opinions -- ideally...
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