FAMILY PRESENCE DURING RESUSCITATION: PROFESSIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND ETHICAL ISSUES

A review of articles, carefully selected from several databases,was conducted for identifying research findings related to the professional considerations and ethical issues involved respecting the presence of the patient's family during resuscitation in adult intensive care units (ICU), the perspectives of the patients; family members and health care staff. Studies on family presence during resuscitation indicated that the majority of patients desire family members'presence during resuscitation. However, based on professional considerations, the healthcare staff held mixed, and sometimes opposite, opinions. Only a few hospitals had active family presence policies in place. While the majority of healthcare providers expressed their preference for a written policy allowing family presence during resuscitation as an option, the decision to establish a formal policy that offers this option is fraught with ethical issues. Consequently, nurses should promote a unit-specific policy on family presence in resuscitation, which takes into account the professional considerations, ethical issues, and the patients' cultural, social background and preferences. To ensure effective implementation of family presence, such a policy should include staff training, and a family facilitator to support and accompany the family during the patient's resuscitation.