In this months issue of my Nursing Journal there is an article which discusses, should families be present during resuscitation? It’s something you’ve probably never given much thought to other than hoping no one in your family ever needs be resuscitated!
If you’re unfamiliar what actually goes on during a code medical shows such as ER portrays the scene pretty accurately. The room is crowded with the code cart and the many people working on the patient. There are doctors, nurses, respiratory therapy, and if it’s a teaching hospital, interns and residents. To someone outside the medical community I personally think it would be very difficult to observe a code being performed on a family member, however that is a personal choice. This is an emotionally charged and controversial topic from both sides, the medical staff and the families.
The debate is, does family presence help or harm the patient? Some clinicians believe that allowing family members to be present – possibly at the last moments of a patients life is the ethical thing to do. Of course others disagree saying that witnessing a futile resuscitation attempt could be very psychologically damaging.
The Pros cite these reasons:
- Family members can show their love and support to the patient
- Their presence could possibly stimulate the patient’s will to live
- It may give family members a sense of peace witnessing the resuscitation
- Being present may help them to understand the reality of the patients condition, or death. Witnessing it could help them cope.
The Cons cite these reasons:
- The presence of family members could be distracting to the health care team, possibly hampering the resuscitation attempt.
- Family members may be traumatized by the unfamiliar sights, sounds, and odors. This is especially true if family members have not been prepared ahead of time of what to expect.
- A family member may faint or fall injuring themselves, which would take attention and resources away from the patient.
- Some people may show anger or violence jeopardizing the staff and ultimately the care of the patient.
- Lastly the legalities. A family member may hear and witness things they do not understand. If it is an unsuccessful resuscitation they may be more likely to sue.
As a nurse I am a strong advocate of family being present at a patients death. I’ve encouraged many family members struggling with saying “goodbye” to their loved one to go back into the room, sit at the bedside, hold their loved ones hand and talk to them. Sometimes a patient needs to be told by family, “it’s ok to let go”. However I do have very mixed emotions about family being present if this last moment is a resuscitation attempt.
What about you? If the patient was your loved one would you want to be present during a resuscitation attempt?
Technorati Tags: Resuscitation attempt – family presence – pros – cons
I don’t think it is a good idea to be present for a resuscitation. If what you are saying is true in how the TV depicts this… I think it would just be too emotional. But to be with someone passing …. and know they are going to pass.. well.. definately I would want to be there.. especially my own immediate family.
Sorry I haven’t been around in a bit. I need to get in the habit of checking my favorites list when I’m blog walking…. grrrrr.. hehe… We survived our son’s wedding and now we are preparing to move. I hope life is going well for you. Vallerie
You are right, Elaine, I haven’t ever considered this until now. I sort of see it from both sides. If it was one of my kids, husband, or a parent, I feel like I would want to be with them no matter how traumatic it would be. It seems like it would be harder on me to be in a waiting room wondering what was going on.
On the other hand, though, I can see how an emotional event like that could cause many emotions to rise up in a family member whose loved one is being resuscitated. A person might get upset and physically harm one of the medical professionals. Sometimes things that medical professionals have to do to save lives are not things we really want anyone we love to have to go through.
I really can’t make a decision on this. I guess looking at it from a viewpoint that does not include my own family, it seems like during a resusitation, family members should not be in there. Like someone else said, though, if it is apparent that there will be no resuscitation, family members should be allowed to spend their last moments with a loved one.
Thanks for sharing and making us think……..
It depends. There are so many variables. My wife knows I have a ‘do not resuscitate without her consent’ request and paperwork. If my quality of life is going to be severely impacted, I just don’t want to live in an iron lung or some such. She has the same request. It’s all about quality of life for most of us.
My mom struggles to breathe the few times a day she gets out of her chair. It’s sad to watch and I try not to dwell upon or call attention to it. I stopped trying to get her to exercise two years ago. She just isn’t in to it. I was just thinking the other day, she is probably gonna be the next to go. Both of Suzy’s parents died suddenly and painlessly in the last three years.
This is really a hard question. Can I get partial credit for just recognizing that?
A very emotional decision… difficult… I would want to be there, but I wouldn’t want to be in the way of any of the medical team or equipment. I would want to be there for my loved one’s last moments, or even better, I would want to be there to see that he’s been “brought back”.
I think I would not like to be present. Too traumatic.
In my opinion, the main objective of being with a loved one as they depart is to give comfort. Of course, the ideal scenario is where everyone is prepared. The medical staff informs the family that the end is very near and what to expect and the environment is kept as peaceful as possible.
I would imagine that it would be very distressing to be present during a code resusitation mostly because of not knowing what the outcome would be. The family couldn’t help but have some hope in what must be an highly emotionally charged situation. And to experience the shock of a negative outcome would certainly not be beneficial for anyone.
Seems to me that it would be better not to be actually present, but close by to deal with the outcome when the crisis is over. No matter what it may be.
Hi Elaine, yet another thought-provoking post! It’s not something I’d given much thought to really and after reading through your description I’m not sure I could say either way really. I think I would probably want to be there, especially if it was a family member or loved one, all I can say is none of us know how we’re going to react when faced with a situation like that, but at least now I will be able to make a reasoned decision! Thank you.
These are all great comments and I’m glad the post made you think about a situation that hopefully never comes about. I think it’s a very personal decision, there is no right or wrong. We really don’t know how we will react until placed in that situation. I do think if one chooses to be present during a resuscitation attempt there needs to be a support person with them, ideally someone from the medical staff that can explain what is going on.
Thank you all for your comments
I have never even thought about that possibility. I don’t think that I would be able to be there, I would really want to be thre if it was reassuring to the person, but I don’t know that I could handle viewing the procedures because if they are anything like they show on TV, it looks terrible. But then I suppose if I knew in advance what it was going to be like?? It’s so hard to say! LOL, good there are no right or wrong answers because right now.. I have no answer at all! I just hope and pray I never have to make that decision, or that the person has already made it depending on the circumstances. Hope you are having a most wonderful day. -S-
Elaine this is such a difficult choice. All I know is when my father died 3 years ago, he was collected on all different kinds of machine, and I was the only one not present cause I live out of town. And I was actually glad I didn’t get to see this, cause I don’t deal well to these kinds of situations. I am not cool and collective. I freak out. My sisters told me what happened and I fell apart just hearing about it. I wanted to remember him like the last time I saw him, not on these machines, this image would be engraved in my mind forever. I don’t think I would like to be there either if they were trying resuscitation, I just couldn’t bare it, I know myself, I would rather wait outside in the hallway and cry and hope for the best. Hope you have a nice weekend and a Happy Mother’s day. ~Hugs~
Elaine,
Since I wasn’t able to be with my dad when he died, and have thought about the issue, I would first want to honor what my loved one wished. My dad was such a loner, and I don’t think he would have wanted me there, regardless. My mother is a different matter, and would want me there, and I would want to be there. I didn’t consider the other issue…but think I could handle that, and would move out of the way, understanding the need to not interfere with the proceedure, if that is what my mom wished.
Beth
No, I do not want to be present in the room when a resusitation is taking place on a loved one.
Gino