Ethical issues in termination of resuscitation decision-making: an interview study with paramedics and relatives of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest non-survivors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), decisions to terminate resuscitation or transport the patient to hospital are ethically fraught. However, little is known about paramedics' ethical concerns in these decision-making processes.

Objective

To develop an understanding of how paramedics experience ethical concerns in OHCA decision-making processes, and how this relates to the ethical concerns of patients' relatives.

Design

A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with paramedics and relatives of OHCA non-survivors.

Setting

Two ambulance trusts in England.

Participants

Thirty-one paramedics, identified as decision-makers in adult OHCA events in which cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) had been initiated, were interviewed. Fourte

SUBMITTER: Eli K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11580266 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature