Garnett, D., Vandrevala, T., Hampson, S., Daly, T. and Arber, S. (2008) Family members' perspectives on potential discussions about life prolongation for their older relatives. Mortality, 13(1), pp. 65-81. ISSN (print) 1357-6275

Abstract

Family members (or health-care confidants) of incapacitated patients are often consultedby doctors when making life-prolongation decisions. Little research has beenconducted on confidants’ views on life prolongation and advance care planning. This study investigated the health-care confidant’s view on life prolongation and their involvement in being a potential decision-maker for their relatives in the event of incapacitation. Confidants (N¼12) were interviewed and interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The analysis revealed three themes relating to their perception of being a potential decision-maker for a relative’s life prolonging measures: ‘‘good’’ and ‘‘bad’’ death based on past experience and perceptions of quality of life, a sense that discussions were inappropriate at present, and strategies which might be used to encourage discussion. The implications of these findings for family involvement in life-prolongation decisions and how to encourage family discussions about life prolongation are discussed. KEYWORDS: life-prolonging treatments; proxy decision-making; family decision-making; advance care planning

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