Witnessed resuscitation in critical care: the case against

The aim of this discussion is to raise awareness of the negative aspects of witnessed resuscitation. The historical precedents associated with the introduction of the concept are outlined. The disadvantages of introducing witnessed resuscitation are delineated. These include issues of human dignity, personal privacy and the provision of adequately trained staff to help relatives cope with the emotional trauma the experience of being a witness may invoke. The paper concludes by calling for more widespread debate and research into the efficacy of introducing such policies into practice.