Original articles
Family-witnessed resuscitation in emergency departments: Doctors' attitudes and practices
Abstract
Objective. We explored the introduction of family witnessed resuscitation (FWR) as it has been shown to allow closure for the family when resuscitation is unsuccessful and helps them to better understand the last moments of life.
Results. Attending medical doctors have concerns about this practice, such as traumatisation of family members, increased pressure on the medical team, interference by the family, and potential medico-legal consequences. There was not complete acceptance of the practice of FWR among the sample group.
Conclusion. Short-course training such as postgraduate advanced life support and other continued professional development activities should have a positive effect on this practice.The more experienced doctors are and the longer they work in emergency medicine, the more comfortable they appear to be with the concept of FWR and therefore the more likely they are to allow it. Further study and course attendance by doctors has a positive influence on the practice of FWR.
Authors' affiliations
E D Gordon,
E Kramer, department of emergency medicine , faculty of health sciences, university of witwatersrand
Ian Couper,
P Brysiewicz, School of nursing, university of kwazulu-natal
Keywords
Cite this article
Article History
Date published: 2011-09-27
Article Views
Full text views: 6612
Comments on this article
*Read our policy for posting comments here