These articles examine family presence during resuscitation from a practical and ethical standpoint. EMS providers have the unique privilege of treating patients in their home which often means we interact with family and close friends. With that being said, we receive little to no training in managing by standards, bereavement, and the practice of incorporating family into patient care.
At the conclusion of this discussion, providers should have interrogated their own beliefs and practices regarding family presence during resuscitation, identify strategies for managing by standards on the next cardiac arrest, and consider the ethical impact of allowing or disallowing family presence.
