The family wants everything done: a reasonable justification for futile surgery? Illustrative case

Review of the basic principles of medical ethics lends to the conclusion that the demands of a patient's family are not adequate justification for surgical intervention in cases, such as the present one, in which a patient is unlikely to benefit. Education and communication are common challenges of managing futile situations and present an educational opportunity for resident physicians. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE25212.