This is the finding of researchers at the Intensive Care Unit, South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesborough, England, and the University of Middlesborough in a survey of 116 consultant physicians and 129 senior nurses who work in neurotrauma intensive care units. Overall, only 37 of the consultants and 54 of the nurses who were questioned around the country had experience of relatives' presence during testing, but 69 percent of them felt that this had helped the relatives. Clinicians with the intensive care unit occasionally allow relatives to observe testing for brain stem death because it may help some families to understand that the patient has died. As there is no evidence to support or refute this practice, we undertook a survey to establish current practice in intensive care units in the United Kingdom. Major potential problems appeared to be spinal reflexes by the patients and the obvious distress of the relatives.
Continual explanation is essential.
Although only a minority of doctors and nurses invite relatives to observe testing for brain stem death, more may consider doing so in the future. Doctor's Guide Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.