There is currently no legal status of "next of kin" in this country asnd therefore on a purely academic level it is only the patient who can consent to there presence or absence of their relatives in the room at any time during their treatment and therefore this would also apply to the resus situation.
-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Jenkins [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 16 October 2003 08:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: relatives, resus and consent
Thanks Andy - I was looking at this purely in terms of Consent - and wanted
to get my head around that aspect - I understand with, and generally agree
with, the practical reasons WHY we have them there. As I stated, it was a
largely academic question about the consent process that arose from the
query 'what if he/she wouldn't have wanted them there?'. That's why I felt
kids were different - their parents normally do their consenting for them
unlike the adult / incompetent adult situation.
Nick Jenkins
-----Original Message-----
From: A S Lockey [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 16 October 2003 08:11
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: relatives, resus and consent
Why are children clearly different? We are all so happy for mothers and
fathers of babies to be there but what about mothers or fathers of adults or
children of adults? Why do we make the distinction?? Is there some loving
bond that is extinguished or diminished "Kevin the teenager" style on
reaching adulthood?
You are quite right - we are treating the relatives/friends etc. There is
clear research that if they WANT to be present (after being given the option
- please note, not being forced to be there), then this helps with the
grieving process. The relatives are in some respects our patients also (even
thought they don't usually book in) and we have a duty of care to them to
help them pass through this traumatic time in the best way possible.
Andy
-----Original Message-----
From: Accident and Emergency Academic List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Jenkins
Sent: 15 October 2003 08:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: relatives, resus and consent
The presence of relatives during Resus is an old chestnut but, during
conversation the other day, we touched on the issue of consent - maybe the
patient wouldn't have wanted them there.
In dealing with consent and the incompetent adult we will do what we
consider best for the patient although it's good practice to talk to
relatives etc. and get them on board.
In a resus situation (lets say a cardiac arrest) having the relatives
present is hardly for the benefit of the patient - it's for the benefit of
the relatives - but is that where our duty of care lies in that situation?
Children are clearly different.
What do people think / has anyone already got the answer? Purely an
academic discussion point and could even be argued by some as being a case
of academia divorced from the real world - like most academic points there
must be an answer and sooner or later it'll have a practical consequence for
someone. At the moment it just doesn't 'fit properly' in the little pigeon
holes in my head!!
Nick Jenkins
A&E Consultant
Abergavenny
http://www.ae-nevillhall.org.uk
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