Abstract
Families generally serve as surrogate decision makers for hospitalized dying patients who are unable to express their own decisions regarding life-prolonging treatments. The authors interviewed family members whose relatives died in the hospital following the withdrawal of aggressive medical treatments. Interviews were at two time periods: at 1 and 6 months post-patient death. Study data indicated a core set of phases which family members experienced in the process of arriving at the decision to withdraw treatment: recognition of futility, coming to terms, shouldering the surrogate role, and facing the question. At 6 months post decision, families reflected on the need for corroborating evidence that they had made the right decision, which the authors term seeking a triangulation of certainty. Advance directives and forthright communication from clinicians were two factors that most helped family members feel more positive about events.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 426-442 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Journal of Family Nursing |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1999 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Community and Home Care
- Family Practice