Creating meaning: Adult children's decision to withdraw life support from an ill parent

Abstract

Ethnographic interviews with four adult children revealed four domains: "Quality of Life"; "Doing the Right Thing"; "Staying Strong"; and "Impact of Decision" they used to create meaning for their decision to withdraw life support from an ill parent. The domains were analyzed and eight cultural themes were discovered: The decision is much easier when the family know what the person would want; the decision should include family input; health care providers can be/are a source of support and information for the family; doing the right thing is important for the family; as death approaches, the family needs extra support from others, when death is imminent the family has difficulty "letting go" and "staying strong"; feelings of guilt; and the impact of life patterns associated with loss. The significance of this data can be used by nursing in assisting families faced with the decision to withdraw life support towards healthy grieving patterns.