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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> End of life decisions >> End of life decisions

End of life decisions

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• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 33 >> She had a phone call in the middle of the night saying her husband's condition was deteriorating and that she should come in immediately.

Her husband was admitted to ICU after having emergency surgery. It was particularly difficult looking after other family members as well as visiting her husband.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 33 >> She and her husband had talked about end of life decisions and her husband had said he wouldn't want to live if he would be left brain damaged.

Her husband was admitted to ICU after having emergency surgery. It was particularly difficult looking after other family members as well as visiting her husband.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 20 >> They didn't want their relative to be kept alive if she would be brain damaged because she wouldn't want to live like that.

In 2004 his wife and her mother spent six months in hospital and was admitted to ICU three times because of sepsis and heart problems.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 30 >> It is important for relatives to think about what the patient would want, however hard this may seem at the time.

His father died in ICU, aged 83. Being an intensive care doctor, he was able to provide information and support to his mother and brother.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 07 >> They felt confused and upset and didn't understand why doctors were asking them to think about end of life decisions when their son could breathe with

Their son was admitted to ICU in 2005 with bacterial meningitis. It was a traumatic time but he is now back home and has made excellent progress.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 51-60 >> Interview 12 >> At the time, she just wanted her son to live but now feels this would have been selfish because he wouldn't have wanted to be completely dependent on

In 2005 her 21-year-old son sadly died in ICU. She focuses as much as she can on remembering the good memories they shared.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 30 >> His 83-year-old father had spent five weeks in ICU and wasn't improving. He and his mother felt it was kinder for doctors to withdraw treatment and pu

His father died in ICU, aged 83. Being an intensive care doctor, he was able to provide information and support to his mother and brother.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 31-40 >> Interview 13 >> She didn't want her husband to suffer any more and agreed with the doctor's advice to withdraw his treatment.

In 2006 her husband had liver disease and pneumonia and sadly died in ICU. She has gained strength from having counselling and from her spirituality.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 70 + >> Interview 26 >> She felt confused with the information she received from different doctors but, when her sister-in-law deteriorated even further, doctors made the dec

In 2006 her sister-in-law sadly died in ICU after having an accident in her car. She visited her daily and took care of all the practical matters.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 41-50 >> Interview 30 >> His 83 year old father developed a succession of complications following surgery for cancer and finally died while still on ICU.

His father died in ICU, aged 83. Being an intensive care doctor, he was able to provide information and support to his mother and brother.

• Intensive care >> Intensive care: experiences of family & friends >> Aged 70 + >> Interview 26 >> She and her husband saw her sister-in-law after talking with doctors, who withdrew treatment and removed medical equipment before they went in to see

In 2006 her sister-in-law sadly died in ICU after having an accident in her car. She visited her daily and took care of all the practical matters.