Family Presence During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Abstract

Most professional guidelines advocate family presence during resuscitation (FPDR). Many clinicians, however, are still reluctant to implement this recommendation. In this article I present the most comprehensive case for FPDR to date. I review the little that has been written about the ethics of FPDR, as well as the available empirical evidence. More importantly, I present and defend three arguments for FPDR: adherence to professional guidelines, benefit to patients and relatives, and patients' autonomy. I conclude with suggestions for future research.