failed resuscitation attempt scenario
You are the doctor in resus. The team has terminated attempts at resuscitating a 72yo who was brought in after an out of hospital cardiac arrest. He was intubated, had a central line sited but was persistently in VF and adrenaline-dependent.
You have been asked to talk to the family who is waiting in the family room.
- Asks for quiet room
- Experienced Nurse presence
- Shop-floor to be controlled by someone else
- Introduces Self, confirms family member identity, Washes hands
- Confirms relationship to patient
- Asks if they would like anyone else to be present
- Asks what is already known
- Clarifies understanding
- Explains what has happened
- Explains what treatments have been tried
- Offers warning shot
- Explains that treatment has failed and that patient is dead
- Asks if patient was religious, offers to call religious leader
- Uses silence appropriately
- Asks if would like to see scans
- Explains scan appropriately
- Offers to take family member to patient
- Explains lines/tubes/etc
- Explains Coroner involvement
- Demonstrates appropriate empathy
- Global Mark