Although often stated in medicine, the term futility has little agreed-on meaning without definition or qualification. The term should only be used with respect to a stated outcome. Physiologic futility is an ability to produce a desired physiologic response by any intervention.(225) Quantitative futility is the probable failure of any intervention to provide a benefit to a patient derived from previous knowledge and experience.(225) Qualitative futility refers to an intervention whose outcome is deemed not worthwhile.(225) The use of the term, defined and qualified, does not necessarily prescribe procedure and lead to a readily agreed on conclusion. Its use, defined and qualified, does provide an understandable topic for discussion that can be used in conjunction with moral theory and concepts. For example, when considering foregoing life-sustaining treatment for an extremely preterm infant, providing further intervention may be futile in terms of short-term survival or in terms of leading to a worthwhile life. These are qualifications of the term futility. The use of the term in this way helps to set the stage for discussion of scientifically derived facts and moral arguments that might apply to the act and consequences of life-sustaining treatment for an extremely preterm infant.

However, the term futile can trigger an emotional response that is counterproductive. For example, if parents disagree with physicians concerning the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from their infant, and they are told that the treatment is futile (qualified or otherwise), what they may hear is that they are being told that the treatment is not worthwhile, it is a waste of time, which may quickly become it is a bothersome waste of time.