Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T01:14:14.268Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Family witnessed resuscitation in UK emergency departments: a survey of practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2004

M. G. Booth ,
L. Woolrich  and
J. Kinsella
M. G. Booth
Affiliation:
Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Scotland, UK
L. Woolrich
Affiliation:
Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Department of Accident and Emergency, Glasgow, UK Present address: DMTM Chamonix Hospital, Route des Pelerins, France.
J. Kinsella
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, Department of Anaesthesia, Scotland, UK
Get access

Abstract

Summary

Background and objectives: The American Heart Association guidelines from 2000 recommend that family members be allowed to witness cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This is controversial and opponents fear litigation and family interference during family witnessed resuscitation (FWR). The extent of FWR in UK Emergency Departments is unknown.

Methods: A telephone survey of a selection of UK Emergency Departments was performed asking about experience with FWR.

Results: One-hundred-and-sixty-two UK Emergency Departments with an average attendance of 47 000 patients per year participated. FWR was allowed by 128 (79%) for an adult patient and 93% for a child. Of these, 50% invited relatives to witness and only 21% did not permit FWR. The perceived benefits were: accepting that all possible has been done (48%), accepting the death (48%) and help with grieving (38%). Two percent did not think FWR was of help. Few had encountered any problems or interference from the family. Never being asked was the commonest reason not allowing FWR followed by staff reluctance. Most respondents would wish to be present if their child (85%), spouse/partner (64%) or elderly relative (52%) was being resuscitated.

Conclusions: FWR is common in UK Emergency Departments. It is more common when children are being resuscitated than adults. Further research is needed to demonstrate whether it is of benefit to the patient or relatives and its applicability to other areas such as intensive care.

Keywords

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION, family witnessed resuscitation, emergency departmentsPROFESSIONAL–FAMILY RELATIONSETHICS
Type
Original Article
Information
European Journal of Anaesthesiology , Volume 21 , Issue 9 , September 2004 , pp. 725 - 728
Copyright
2004 European Society of Anaesthesiology

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Resuscitation Council (UK). Should Relatives Witness Resuscitation? London, UK: Resuscitation Council (UK), 1996.
Adams S, Whitlock M, Higgs R, et al. Should relatives be allowed to watch resuscitation? BMJ 1994; 308: 1687–1692.Google Scholar
Wright J, Ford H. We have no regrets. BMJ 1994; 309: 670.Google Scholar
Robinson SM, Mackenzie-Ross S, Campbell Hewson GL, Egleston CV, Prevost AT. Psychological effect of witnessed resuscitation on bereaved relatives. Lancet 1998; 352: 614–617.Google Scholar
McClenathan BM, Torrington KG, Uyehara CFT. Family member presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Chest 2002; 122: 2204–2211.Google Scholar
Tsai E. Should family members be present during cardiopulmonary resuscitation? New Eng J Med 2002; 346: 1019–1021.Google Scholar
Meyers TA, Eichhorn DJ, Guzzetta CE, et al. Family presence during invasive procedures and resuscitation: the experience of family members, nurses and physicians. Am J Nursing 2000; 100: 32–43.Google Scholar
The American Heart Association in collaboration with the International liaison committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR). Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: part 2. Ethical aspects of CPR and ECC. Circulation 2000; 102 (Suppl): I12–I21.
Directory of Critical Care 2002. Cambridge, UK: CMA Medical Data, 2002.
Osuagwu CC. More on family presence during resuscitation. J Emerg Nursing 1993; 19: 276–277.Google Scholar
Hanson C, Strawser D. Family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation: Foote Hospital emergency department's nine-year perspective. J Emerg Nursing 1992; 18: 104–106.Google Scholar
Goldstein A, Berry K, Callaghan A. Resuscitation witnessed by relatives. Has proved acceptable to doctors in paediatric cases. BMJ 1997; 314: 144.Google Scholar