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Turner K. Hidden Fault Lines in the Bedrock: A Critical Examination of Surrogate Decision-Making Standards in Ethics Consultation. THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ETHICS 2024; 35:155-168. [PMID: 39145581 DOI: 10.1086/730875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
AbstractClinical ethicists are routinely consulted in cases that involve conflicts and uncertainties related to surrogate decision-making for incapacitated patients. To navigate these cases, we invoke a canonical ethical-legal hierarchy of decision-making standards: the patient's known wishes, substituted judgment, and best interest. Despite the routine application of this hierarchy, however, critical scholarly literature alleges that these standards fail to capture patients' preferences and surrogates' behaviors. Moreover, the extent to which these critiques are incorporated into consultant practices is unclear. In this article I thus explore whether, and how, existing critiques of the hierarchy affect the application of these standards during ethics consults. After discussing four critiques of the hierarchy, I examine how two prominent published ethics consultation methodologies-bioethics mediation and CASES-incorporate these critiques differently. I then argue that while both methodologies explicitly endorse the same hierarchy, the varying degrees to which these four criticisms are incorporated into the prescribed consultation process could produce different applications of the same standard. I demonstrate with a case study how an ethics consultant following either methodology might produce two substantively different recommendations despite using the same substituted judgment standard. I conclude that while this heterogeneity of application should not dismantle the hierarchy's status as field-wide canon, it complicates projects of professional ethics consultation consensus building.
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MacIntyre MR, Cockerill RG, Mirza OF, Appel JM. Ethical considerations for the use of artificial intelligence in medical decision-making capacity assessments. Psychiatry Res 2023; 328:115466. [PMID: 37717548 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are providing new tools to clinicians. AI tools have the potential to process vast amounts of data in a short amount of time, providing new insights and changing how we approach complicated healthcare problems. AI has the potential to assist clinicians in medical decision-making capacity assessments by providing additional insights to an evaluation process that currently lacks universal objective standards. However, despite the promise of AI in this setting, there remain significant concerns making it unlikely to replace human evaluators anytime soon. AI remains highly susceptible to biased inputs and thus biased decisions, raises questions about autonomy, and creates uncertainty for who is accountable for the ultimate decision of capacity. In this paper we explore these ethical considerations of using AI for capacity assessments. While we acknowledge AI may not be ready to replace physicians in determining patient medical-decision making capacity, these new technologies have significant near-term potential as a tool to screen patients, uncover physician biases, and guide next steps after a capacity determination has been made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R MacIntyre
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A..
| | - Richard G Cockerill
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 5815 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Omar F Mirza
- Department of Psychiatry, NYC Health+Hospitals/Harlem, 506 Lenox Ave., New York, New York, USA
| | - Jacob M Appel
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Education, Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl., New York, New York, USA
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Hadler RA, Clapp JT, Chung JJ, Gutsche JT, Fleisher LA. Escalation and Withdrawal of Treatment for Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Qualitative Study. Ann Surg 2023; 277:e226-e234. [PMID: 33714966 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe decisions about the escalation and withdrawal of treatment for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Interventions premised on facilitating patient autonomy have proven problematic in guiding treatment decisions in intensive care units (ICUs). Calls have thus been made to better understand how decisions are made in critical care. ECMO is an important form of cardiac and respiratory support, but care on ECMO is characterized by prognostic uncertainty, varying time course, and high resource use. It remains unclear how decisions about treatment escalation and withdrawal should be made for patients on ECMO and what role families should play in these decisions. METHODS We performed a focused ethnography in 2 cardiothoracic ICUs in 2 US academic hospitals. We conducted 380 hours of observation, 34 weekly interviews with families of 20 ECMO patients, and 13 interviews with unit clinicians from January to September 2018. Qualitative analysis used an iterative coding process. RESULTS Following ECMO initiation, treatment was escalated as complications mounted until the patient either could be decannulated or interventional options were exhausted. Families were well-informed about treatment and prognosis but played minimal roles in shaping the trajectory of care. CONCLUSIONS Discussion between clinicians and families about prognosis and goals was frequent but did not occasion decision-making moments. This study helps explain why communication interventions intended to maintain patient autonomy through facilitating surrogate participation in decisions have had limited impact. A more comprehensive understanding of upstream factors that predispose courses of critical care is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Hadler
- Department of Anesthesia, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - Justin T Clapp
- Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Penn Center for Perioperative Outcomes Research and Transformation, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Jacob T Gutsche
- Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Lee A Fleisher
- Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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Sui W, Gong X, Qiao X, Zhang L, Cheng J, Dong J, Zhuang Y. Family members' perceptions of surrogate decision-making in the intensive care unit: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud 2023; 137:104391. [PMID: 36442321 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2022.104391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A better understanding of the perceptions of family members in making surrogate decisions for loved ones during intensive care is needed to inform the development of targeted supportive interventions. OBJECTIVE To examine and synthesize qualitative data on family members' perceptions of surrogate decision-making in the intensive care unit. DESIGN We conducted a systematic review and qualitative data synthesis. Eligible studies contained family members' quotes about surrogate decision-making experiences and perceptions in adult intensive care units, published in English or Chinese, in a peer-reviewed journal up to February 2022. Data sources included Embase, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Biomedical Literature Service System, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, and VIP Journal. METHODS The searches yielded 5974 identified articles, of which 23 studies were included. At least two different reviewers independently assessed the study quality and extracted data into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. A thematic synthesis was performed by classifying all text units into one of the broad themes and subsequently analyzed to inductively develop the first-, second-, and third-order themes. Six family members with experience in intensive care unit surrogate decision-making contributed to the analysis. RESULTS The qualitative data synthesis resulted in five major themes. The following key new insights into family members' perceptions of surrogate decision-making in the intensive care unit were obtained: in individual systems, family members suffered from emotional distress and psychological stress; different cognitive styles emerged; some family members reshaped a new order of life in the disruption; in family systems, the family as a whole was closely connected with each other; and in medical systems families perceived asymmetry in relationships with clinicians, many factors influencing trust, the necessity for role-specific mediators and issues with operations and environments not being sufficiently humanized. CONCLUSION This qualitative synthesis showed that individuals' emotions and cognition underwent complex processes during surrogate decision-making. The family as a whole, with disparate functional states, also faced different processes and outcomes under the crisis situation. At a broader level, the decision-making process reflected society's perceptions of the medical system. Future studies should use these insights to further explore and optimize the many aspects of surrogate decision support measures for families of critically ill patients and include the measurement of outcomes after interventions at multiple layers of the individual, family, and medical systems. REGISTRATION NUMBER The protocol was prospectively published on International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO)-CRD42022316687. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Families of critically ill patients undergo a complex interactional process within the individual, family, and medical systems during surrogate decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijing Sui
- Nursing Department, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Gong
- Nursing Department, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xiaoting Qiao
- School of Nursing, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Lixin Zhang
- School of Nursing, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Junning Cheng
- School of Nursing, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jing Dong
- School of Nursing, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Yiyu Zhuang
- Nursing Department, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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van Beinum A, Murphy N, Weijer C, Gruben V, Sarti A, Hornby L, Dhanani S, Chandler J. Family experiences with non-therapeutic research on dying patients in the intensive care unit. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2022; 48:845-851. [PMID: 34261806 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2021-107311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Experiences of substitute decision-makers with requests for consent to non-therapeutic research participation during the dying process, including to what degree such requests are perceived as burdensome, have not been well described. In this study, we explored the lived experiences of family members who consented to non-therapeutic research participation on behalf of an imminently dying patient.We interviewed 33 family members involved in surrogate research consent decisions for dying patients in intensive care. Non-therapeutic research involved continuous physiological monitoring of dying patients prior to and for 30 min following cessation of circulation. At some study centres participation involved installation of bedside computers. At one centre electroencephalogram monitoring was used with a subset of participants. Aside from additional monitoring, the research protocol did not involve deviations from usual end-of-life care.Thematic analysis of interviews suggests most family members did not perceive this minimal-risk, non-therapeutic study to affect their time with patients during the dying process, nor did they perceive research consent as an additional burden. In our analysis, consenting for participation in perimortem research offered families of the dying an opportunity to affirm the intrinsic value of patients' lives and contributions. This opportunity may be particularly important for families of patients who consented to organ donation but did not proceed to organ retrieval.Our work supports concerns that traditional models of informed consent fail to account for possible benefits and harms of perimortem research to surviving families. Further research into consent models which integrate patient and family perspectives is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda van Beinum
- Critical Care Research, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Sociology and Anthropology, Carleton University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nick Murphy
- Philosophy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles Weijer
- Philosophy, Western University Faculty of Arts and Humanities, London, Ontario, Canada
- Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vanessa Gruben
- Common Law, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aimee Sarti
- Medicine, Ottawa Hospital General Campus, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Critical Care Medicine, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura Hornby
- Critical Care Research, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Deceased Donation, Canadian Blood Services Organ Donation and Transplantation, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sonny Dhanani
- Critical Care Research, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer Chandler
- Common Law, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Medicine, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Na SY, Slaven JE, Burke ES, Torke AM. Health Care System Distrust, Race, and Surrogate Decision-Making Regarding Code Status. Health Equity 2022; 6:809-818. [PMID: 36338803 PMCID: PMC9629912 DOI: 10.1089/heq.2022.0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Previous studies have shown that black patients are more likely to prefer life-sustaining treatments such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation at end-of-life (EOL) compared to non-Hispanic white patients. Given prior racial disparities in health care, distrust has been proposed to explain these preferences. As many hospitalized older adults require surrogates to make medical decisions, we explored surrogates' code status preferences and the role of trust in these decisions. Methods We conducted secondary analyses of an observational study of patient/surrogate dyads admitted to three hospitals in a Midwest metropolitan area. Distrust was assessed using the Revised Health Care System Distrust Scale. A single item asked the surrogate which code status they thought was best for the patient, full code or do not resuscitate. Results We enrolled 350 patient/surrogate dyads (101 black; 249 white). In bivariate analysis, higher proportion of black surrogates preferred full code (62.4% vs. 38.3%, p=0.0001). After adjusting for trust and sociodemographic and psychological covariates, race was still significantly associated with preference for full code (adjusted odds ratio=2.13; 95% confidence interval: 1.16-3.92; p=0.0153). Surrogate race was not associated with distrust in bivariate or multivariable analysis, adjusting for sociodemographic and psychological covariates (p=0.3049). Conclusion Although black race was associated with preferences for full code status, we observed no association between race and distrust. Differences in code status preference may be due to other factors related to race and culture. To ensure that patients are receiving EOL care that is consistent with their values, more work is needed to understand the cultural complexities behind EOL care preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Yoon Na
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - James E. Slaven
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Emily S. Burke
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Alexia M. Torke
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Address correspondence to: Alexia Torke, MD, MS, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1101 West Tenth Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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Vickey T, Frechman E. Continuation of Hemodialysis in a Patient With Global Hypoxic Brain Injury: Ethical Considerations and Factors That May Influence Decision Making. J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2022; 24:E35-E40. [PMID: 34935712 DOI: 10.1097/njh.0000000000000831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Survivors of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are at a high risk of mortality and morbidity especially when there is resultant global hypoxic brain injury. In these situations, the patient's degree of neurologic recovery may be uncertain and family decision making is often difficult. Decision making may also be complicated by the age of the patient and one's underlying cultural and spiritual beliefs stressing the importance of patient- and family-centered care. In this article, this clinical case demonstrates the challenges in decision making and highlights the importance of communication among the health care team and the family to align the patient's goals, values, and preferences in light of a poor neurological prognosis.
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Bakke BM, Feuz MA, McMahan RD, Barnes DE, Li B, Volow AM, Powell J, Sudore RL. Surrogate Decision Makers Need Better Preparation for Their Role: Advice from Experienced Surrogates. J Palliat Med 2022; 25:857-863. [DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2021.0283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Bakke
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mariko A. Feuz
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Ryan D. McMahan
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Deborah E. Barnes
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Brookelle Li
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Aiesha M. Volow
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jana Powell
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Sudore
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, California, USA
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Dionne-Odom JN, Azuero A, Taylor RA, Wells RD, Hendricks BA, Bechthold AC, Reed RD, Harrell ER, Dosse CK, Engler S, McKie P, Ejem D, Bakitas MA, Rosenberg AR. Resilience, preparedness, and distress among family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Support Care Cancer 2021; 29:6913-6920. [PMID: 34031751 PMCID: PMC9733586 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06265-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Resilience has been proposed as a primary factor in how many family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer are able to resist psychological strain and perform effectively in the role while bearing a high load of caregiving tasks. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined whether self-perceived resilience is associated with distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms), caregiver preparedness, and readiness for surrogate decision-making among a racially diverse sample of family caregivers of patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer. METHODS Secondary analysis of baseline data from two small-scale, pilot clinical trials that both recruited family caregivers of patients with newly diagnosed advanced cancer. Using multivariable linear regression, we analyzed relationships of resilience as a predictor of mood, caregiving preparedness, and readiness for surrogate decision-making, controlling for sociodemographics. RESULTS Caregiver participants (N = 112) were mean 56 years of age and mostly female (76%), the patient's spouse/partner (52%), and White (56%) or African-American/Black (43%). After controlling for demographics, standardized results indicated that higher resilience was relevantly associated with higher caregiver preparedness (beta = .46, p < .001), higher readiness for surrogate decision-making (beta = .20, p < .05) and lower anxiety (beta = - .19, p < .05), and depressive symptoms (beta = - .20, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that resilience may be critical to caregivers' abilities to manage stress, be effective sources of support to patients, and feel ready to make future medical decisions on behalf of patients. Future work should explore and clinicians should consider whether resilience can be enhanced in cancer caregivers to optimize their well-being and ability to perform in the caregiving and surrogate decision-making roles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andres Azuero
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Richard A Taylor
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Rachel D Wells
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Bailey A Hendricks
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Avery C Bechthold
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Rhiannon D Reed
- Comprehensive Transplant Institute, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Erin R Harrell
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Chinara K Dosse
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Sally Engler
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Peggy McKie
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Deborah Ejem
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Marie A Bakitas
- School of Nursing, University of Alabama At Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Palliative Care and Resilience Lab, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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Jones K, Quinn T, Mazor KM, Muehlschlegel S. Prognostic Uncertainty in Critically Ill Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multicenter Qualitative Study. Neurocrit Care 2021; 35:311-321. [PMID: 34080083 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-021-01230-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prognostic uncertainty is frequently cited as a barrier to communication between physicians and patients and is particularly burdensome for surrogate decision-makers, who must make choices on behalf of their incapacitated family members. The Conceptual Taxonomy of Uncertainty is one model through which physician and surrogate communication can be analyzed to identify strategies for reducing uncertainty in surrogate decision-making. Our objective was to examine themes of uncertainty in physician communication of prognosis and surrogate goals-of-care decision-making for critically ill patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS We performed a secondary analysis of a previous qualitative study that involved semistructured interviews of 16 surrogates of critically ill patients with TBI from two level 1 trauma centers and 20 TBI expert physicians from seven trauma centers. Open-ended questions about prognostic uncertainty were asked. We identified major themes with an inductive approach. The Conceptual Taxonomy of Uncertainty was applied to further characterize these themes as data-centered, system-centered, and patient-centered issues of uncertainty. RESULTS Nearly all surrogates (15 of 16) and physicians (19 of 20) recognized the emotional burden of uncertainty in the decision-making process for surrogates. More than three quarters of surrogates (13 of 16) described instances in which a lack of information regarding their loved one's disease or prognosis created uncertainty in their decision-making process, identifying both positive and negative instances of prognostic communication by physicians. We found that physicians used one of three strategies to communicate prognostic uncertainty to surrogates: leaving no room for uncertainty, honesty about uncertainty, and range of possibilities. These strategies did not meet the communication preferences of the majority of surrogates, with more than a third of decision-makers (6 of 15) being frustrated by too much ambiguity about prognosis as well as the failure to acknowledge the existence of uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS We found that physician communication strategies rarely addressed surrogate needs regarding uncertainty adequately, suggesting an urgent need for future research into improved communication of prognostic uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Jones
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Thomas Quinn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathleen M Mazor
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Meyers Primary Care Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology/Critical Care, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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Tanaka M, Bito S, Enzo A, Okita T, Atsushi A. Cross-sectional survey of surrogate decision-making in Japanese medical practice. BMC Med Ethics 2021; 22:128. [PMID: 34560873 PMCID: PMC8464150 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00698-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Instances of surrogate decision-making are expected to increase with the rise in hospitalised older adults in Japan. Few large-scale studies have comprehensively examined the entire surrogate decision-making process. This study aimed to gather information to assess the current state of surrogate decision-making in Japan. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted using online questionnaires. A total of 1000 surrogate decision-makers responded to the questionnaire. We examined the characteristics of surrogate decision-makers and patients, content of surrogate decision-making meeting regarding life-sustaining treatment between the doctors and surrogate decision-makers, extent of involvement of the various parties in the surrogate decision-making process, judgement grounds for surrogate decision-making, and frequency of involvement in the surrogate decision-making process. RESULTS Of the participants, 70.5% were male and 48.3% were eldest sons. Only 7.6% of the patients had left a written record of their preferences and 48.8% of the surrogates reported no knowledge of the patient having expressed their prior intentions regarding medical care in any form. Respondents indicated that their family meetings with healthcare professionals mostly included the information recommended by guidelines in a surrogate decision-making meeting in Japan. Most participants reported a good understanding of the meeting content. Although many participants based their decisions on multiple grounds, surrogates' considerations may not adequately reflect respect for patient autonomy in Japan. Specifically, the eldest son considered his own preference more frequently than that of the other surrogate decision-makers. In 26.1% of the cases, either zero or one family meeting with healthcare professionals was held. In these cases, significantly fewer decisions involved the participation of healthcare professionals other than the doctor compared to cases with multiple meetings. CONCLUSIONS Surrogate decisions in Japan are most commonly made by eldest sons and may not frequently consider the perspectives of other surrogates. The finding that patient preferences were rarely known suggests a role for increased advance care planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Tanaka
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8902, Japan. .,Department of Medical Ethics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryotyou, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan. .,KARADA Internal Medicine Clinic Shibuya, 1-23-13 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0041, Japan.
| | - Seiji Bito
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, 2-5-1 Higashigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8902, Japan
| | - Aya Enzo
- Department of Medical Ethics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryotyou, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takethoshi Okita
- Department of Medical Ethics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryotyou, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Asai Atsushi
- Department of Medical Ethics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryotyou, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
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12
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Aldolaim S. Ethical Dilemma: Healthcare Surrogate Refusal of Opioid Administration. Pain Manag Nurs 2021; 22:806-810. [PMID: 34226149 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2021.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
It is morally distressing when a healthcare provider sees patients with undertreated pain but is unable to provide adequate relief because of a surrogate's refusal of such treatment. This issue might occur when there is no clear advanced directive that represents patients' wishes for treatment, and can be further complicated when patients are of minority cultural backgrounds. This article presents a case where the surrogate of a Korean-American woman with severe somatic pain from metastatic pancreatic cancer requested only acetaminophen be given to control the patient's pain. The ethical issues associated with surrogate misconceptions on therapeutic use of opioids are reviewed. This case highlights the ethical dilemma of withholding opioid treatment in a patient with advanced cancer. We conclude that the obligation to treat pain should be understood beyond the authority of surrogate refusal, in favor of patient quality of life, when an advance directive is not in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadeg Aldolaim
- From the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
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Lightfoot N, Kirkova Y, Fox S, Alan S. Overcoming Challenges to Surrogate Decision Making for Young Adults at the End of Life. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2021; 38:596-600. [PMID: 33715423 DOI: 10.1177/10499091211001007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Surrogate decision makers (SDMs) are challenged by difficult decisions at the end of life. This becomes more complex in young adult patients when parents are frequently the SDMs. This age group (18 to 39 years old) commonly lacks advanced directives to provide guidance which results in increased moral distress during end of life decisions. Multiple factors help guide medical decision making throughout a patient's disease course and at the end of life. These include personal patient factors and SDM factors. It has been identified that spiritual and community group support is a powerful, but inadequately used resource for these discussions. It can improve patient-SDM-provider communications, decrease psycho-social distress, and avoid unnecessary interventions at the end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Lightfoot
- Department of Neurology, 12231Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yordanka Kirkova
- Department of Palliative Care, 12231Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Stephen Fox
- Department of Medicine, 12231Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sheinei Alan
- Department of Medicine, 12231Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
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Hammami MM, Abuhdeeb K, Balkhi AA. Importance Hierarchy of Surrogate Medical Decision Making Determinants: A Q-Methodology Study in Middle Eastern and East Asian Men. Med Decis Making 2020; 40:1020-1033. [PMID: 33174512 DOI: 10.1177/0272989x20963042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Factors other than patient's preference may influence surrogate medical decision making in a culture- and viewpoint-dependent way. We explored the importance hierarchy of potential surrogate medical decision making determinants to Middle-Eastern (ME) and East-Asian (EA) men according to their norm-perception (N-viewpoint), preference as patients (P-viewpoint), and preference as surrogate decision-makers (S-viewpoint). METHODS Each respondent (120 ME, 120 EA) sorted 28 items reflecting potential determinants into a fixed distribution of importance hierarchy according to the three viewpoints. Latent decision making models were explored by by-person factor analysis (Q-methodology). RESULTS Six models were identified for each ME and EA viewpoint (total 36). Patient's health-related, patient's preference-related, and society's interests-related determinants were strongly embraced in 34, 3, and zero models and strongly discounted in 2, 5, and 21 models, respectively. Patient's religious/spiritual belief was strongly embraced in 6 EA models compared to 2 ME models and strongly discounted in 2 EA models compared to 5 ME models. Further, family-centric and surrogate's interest-related determinants were strongly embraced in 8 EA models compared to 1 ME model. They were also strongly embraced in 5 P-viewpoint compared to 2 S-viewpoint models and strongly discounted in 4 P-viewpoint compared to 11 S-viewpoint models. Despite the overall predominance of patient's health-related determinants and culture- and viewpoint-dependent differences, Q-methodology analysis identified relatively patient's preference-influenced, religious/spiritual beliefs-influenced, emotion-influenced, and familism-influenced models and showed notable overlap in models. CONCLUSIONS Patient's health was more important than other potential medical surrogate decision making determinants, including patient's preference, for both ME and EA men and in all viewpoints. The relative importance of some determinants was culture- and viewpoint- dependent and allowed description of different albeit overlapping models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad M Hammami
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Alfaisal University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kafa Abuhdeeb
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Areej Al Balkhi
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Kompanje EJO, van Dijck JTJM, Chalos V, van den Berg SA, Janssen PM, Nederkoorn PJ, van der Jagt M, Citerio G, Stocchetti N, Dippel DWJ, Peul WC. Informed consent procedures for emergency interventional research in patients with traumatic brain injury and ischaemic stroke. Lancet Neurol 2020; 19:1033-1042. [PMID: 33098755 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(20)30276-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Health-care professionals and researchers have a legal and ethical responsibility to inform patients before carrying out diagnostic tests or treatment interventions as part of a clinical study. Interventional research in emergency situations can involve patients with some degree of acute cognitive impairment, as is regularly the case in traumatic brain injury and ischaemic stroke. These patients or their proxies are often unable to provide informed consent within narrow therapeutic time windows. International regulations and national laws are criticised for being inconclusive or restrictive in providing solutions. Currently accepted consent alternatives are deferred consent, exception from consent, or waiver of consent. However, these alternatives appear under-utilised despite being ethically permissible, socially acceptable, and regulatorily compliant. We anticipate that, when the requirements for medical urgency are properly balanced with legal and ethical conduct, the increased use of these alternatives has the potential to improve the efficiency and quality of future emergency interventional studies in patients with an inability to provide informed consent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin J O Kompanje
- Department of Intensive Care Adult, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Jeroen T J M van Dijck
- University Neurosurgical Center Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, Haaglanden Medical Center & Haga Teaching Hospital, Leiden and The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Vicky Chalos
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Science, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sophie A van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands
| | - Paula M Janssen
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mathieu van der Jagt
- Department of Intensive Care Adult, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Giuseppe Citerio
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Nino Stocchetti
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, Milan University, Milan, Italy; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Diederik W J Dippel
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wilco C Peul
- University Neurosurgical Center Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, Haaglanden Medical Center & Haga Teaching Hospital, Leiden and The Hague, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Patients with disorders of consciousness after severe brain injury need surrogate decision makers to guide treatment decisions on their behalf. Formal guidelines for surrogate decisionmaking generally instruct decision makers to first appeal to a patient's written advance directive, followed by making a substituted judgment of what the patient would have chosen, and lastly, to make decisions according to what seems to be in the patient's best medical interests. Substituted judgment is preferable because it is taken to preserve patient autonomy, by using a patient's past wishes and values to reconstruct what they would have chosen for themselves. In this paper, the author argues that for a certain population of patients, the standard interpretation of substituted judgment cannot ensure the preservation of patient autonomy. Patients with "covert awareness" may continue to have values and an authentic sense of self, which may differ from their past values and wishes. Accordingly, surrogate decision makers should make decisions based on how the patient is likely to experience their condition in the present, rather than their past wishes and values.
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Hammami MM, Al Balkhi A, De Padua SS, Abuhdeeb K. Factors underlying surrogate medical decision-making in middle eastern and east Asian women: a Q-methodology study. BMC Palliat Care 2020; 19:137. [PMID: 32873284 PMCID: PMC7466416 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-020-00643-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It is not clear how lay people prioritize the various, sometimes conflicting, interests when they make surrogate medical decisions, especially in non-Western cultures. The extent such decisions are perspective-related is also not well documented. Methods We explored the relative importance of 28 surrogate decision-making factors to 120 Middle-Eastern (ME) and 120 East-Asian (EA) women from three perspectives, norm-perception (N), preference as patient (P), and preference as surrogate decision-maker (S). Each respondent force-ranked (one to nine) 28 opinion-items according to each perspective. Items’ ranks were analyzed by averaging-analysis and Q-methodology. Results Respondents’ mean (SD) age was 33.2 (7.9) years; all ME were Muslims, 83% of EA were Christians. “Trying everything possible to save patient,” “Improving patient health,” “Patient pain and suffering,” and/or “What is in the best interests of patient” were the three most-important items, whereas “Effect of caring for patient on all patients in society,” “Effect of caring for patient on patients with same disease,” and/or “Cost to society from caring for patient” were among the three least-important items, in each ME and EA perspectives. P-perspective assigned higher mean ranks to family and surrogate’s needs and burdens-related items, and lower mean rank to “Fear of loss” than S-perspective (p<0.001). ME assigned higher mean ranks to “Medical facts” and “Surrogate own wishes for patient” and lower mean rank to “Family needs” in all perspectives (p<0.001). Q-methodology identified models that were relatively patient’s preference-, patient’s religious/spiritual beliefs-, or emotion-dependent (all perspectives); medical facts-dependent (N- and S-perspectives), financial needs-dependent (P- and S-perspectives), and family needs-dependent (P-perspective). Conclusions 1) Patient’s health was more important than patient’s preference to ME and EA women; society interest was least important. 2) Family and surrogate’s needs/ burdens were more important, whereas fear of loss was less important to respondents as patients than as surrogate decision-makers. 3) Family needs were more important to EA than ME respondents, the opposite was true for medical facts and surrogate’s wishes for patient. 4) Q-methodology models that relatively emphasized various surrogate decision-making factors overlapped the ME and EA women’ three perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad M Hammami
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P O Box # 3354 MBC 03, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia. .,Alfaisal University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Areej Al Balkhi
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P O Box # 3354 MBC 03, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sophia S De Padua
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P O Box # 3354 MBC 03, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kafa Abuhdeeb
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P O Box # 3354 MBC 03, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
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Seidlein AH, Hannich A, Nowak A, Gründling M, Salloch S. Ethical aspects of time in intensive care decision making. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ETHICS 2020; 47:medethics-2019-105752. [PMID: 32332151 DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2019-105752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The decision-making environment in intensive care units (ICUs) is influenced by the transformation of intensive care medicine, the staffing situation and the increasing importance of patient autonomy. Normative implications of time in intensive care, which affect all three areas, have so far barely been considered. The study explores patterns of decision making concerning the continuation, withdrawal and withholding of therapies in intensive care. A triangulation of qualitative data collection methods was chosen. Data were collected through non-participant observation on a surgical ICU at an academic medical centre followed by semi-structured interviews with nurses and physicians. The transcribed interviews and observation notes were coded and analysed using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Three themes related to time emerged regarding the escalation or de-escalation of therapies: influence of time on prognosis, time as a scarce resource and timing in regards to decision making. The study also reveals the ambivalence of time as a norm for decision making. The challenge of dealing with time-related efforts in ICU care results from the tension between the need to wait to optimise patient care, which must be balanced against the significant time pressure which is characteristic of the ICU setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Henrikje Seidlein
- Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Arne Hannich
- Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andre Nowak
- Institute for History and Ethics of Medicine, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Matthias Gründling
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Greifswald, Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
| | - Sabine Salloch
- Institute of Ethics and History of Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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Forero Villalobos JJ, Vargas Celis I, Bernales Silva M. Voluntades anticipadas: desafíos éticos en el cuidado del paciente. PERSONA Y BIOÉTICA 2019. [DOI: 10.5294/pebi.2019.23.2.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Las voluntades anticipadas en salud tienen como finalidad que la persona manifieste de manera anticipada su voluntad sobre los cuidados y el tratamiento de su salud, lo cual le permite expresar personalmente y de forma previa sus preferencias. Esta revisión de la literatura tiene por objetivo describir el concepto y la estructura de las voluntades anticipadas, así como los aspectos éticos involucrados durante el cuidado del paciente. Con las palabras clave “Advanced Health Care Directive” AND “Ethical Implication” y sus símiles en español (voluntades anticipadas, implicaciones éticas), se revisaron cinco bases de datos: ProQuest, Philosophy (JSTOR), PubMed, Web of Science y SciELO; las publicaciones se agruparon entre los años 2010 y 2018. Se obtuvieron 31 artículos de los cuales se realizó una lectura crítica. Los resultados de esta revisión fueron agrupados en las siguientes categorías: concepto, estructura, situaciones clínicas donde se aplican las voluntades anticipadas, fortalezas y limitaciones; así como los aspectos éticos involucrados. Actualmente, son más comunes las vivencias relacionadas con las situaciones al final de la vida, donde la persona pierde su capacidad de decidir y no puede manifestar sus deseos, por lo que es imposible conocer su voluntad. Gran parte de los profesionales de la salud no tienen capacitación adecuada sobre el desarrollo y la aplicación de las voluntades anticipadas, escenario que se convierte en una oportunidad para la investigación y profundización sobre el tema. Las voluntades anticipadas son una herramienta que proporciona al equipo de salud información fidedigna de los valores y deseos del paciente, por lo que es importante capacitar a estos profesionales para brindar una atención respetuosa y de calidad.
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20
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Shepherd V, Hood K, Sheehan M, Griffith R, Wood F. 'It's a tough decision': a qualitative study of proxy decision-making for research involving adults who lack capacity to consent in UK. Age Ageing 2019; 48:903-909. [PMID: 31595291 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afz115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research into dementia and other conditions connected with cognitive impairments is essential but conducting research with populations who lack capacity to provide consent involves a number of ethical, legal and practical challenges. In England and Wales, family members can act as a consultee or legal representative on behalf of someone who lacks capacity. However, there is a paucity of research about how family members make decisions concerning research participation. OBJECTIVE To explore family members' experiences of proxy decision-making for research. Understanding how proxy decisions are made could lead to interventions to support greater inclusion of individuals in research who have impaired decision-making capacity. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 17 family members who had experience as a proxy for making decisions about participation in research, including those who had agreed to participation and those who declined. Thematic analysis was used to examine experiences and generate findings for research practice and to develop future supportive interventions. RESULTS Proxy decision-making is highly contextualised. Proxies balance a number of factors when deciding about research participation, including the person's values and preferences, within the specific context of the study, and the practicalities of being involved. Proxies use these factors to construct a decision that is authentic to the person they care for. CONCLUSIONS Proxy decision-making for research is a complex process with inter-woven layers of decision-making. Decisions can be problematic for some proxies who may benefit from decision support to make an informed decision about research participation on behalf of a family member.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Shepherd
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, 5th floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, 7th floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK
| | - Kerenza Hood
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, 7th floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK
| | - Mark Sheehan
- Ethox Centre, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Big Data Institute, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Richard Griffith
- College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Fiona Wood
- Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, 5th floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK
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Hammami MM, Abuhdeeb K, Hammami MB, De Padua SJS, Al-Balkhi A. Prediction of life-story narrative for end-of-life surrogate's decision-making is inadequate: a Q-methodology study. BMC Med Ethics 2019; 20:28. [PMID: 31053127 PMCID: PMC6500001 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-019-0368-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Substituted judgment assumes adequate knowledge of patient’s mind-set. However, surrogates’ prediction of individual healthcare decisions is often inadequate and may be based on shared background rather than patient-specific knowledge. It is not known whether surrogate’s prediction of patient’s integrative life-story narrative is better. Methods Respondents in 90 family pairs (30 husband-wife, 30 parent-child, 30 sibling-sibling) rank-ordered 47 end-of-life statements as life-story narrative measure (Q-sort) and completed instruments on decision-control preference and healthcare-outcomes acceptability as control measures, from respondent’s view (respondent-personal) and predicted pair’s view (respondent-surrogate). They also scored their confidence in surrogate’s decision-making (0 to 4 = maximum) and familiarity with pair’s healthcare-preferences (1 to 4 = maximum). Life-story narratives’ prediction was examined by calculating correlation of statements’ ranking scores between respondent-personal and respondent-surrogate Q-sorts (projection) and between respondent-surrogate and pair-personal Q-sorts before (simulation) and after controlling for correlation with respondent-personal scores (adjusted-simulation), and by comparing percentages of respondent-surrogate Q-sorts co-loading with pair-personal vs. respondent-personal Q-sorts. Accuracy in predicting decision-control preference and healthcare-outcomes acceptability was determined by percent concordance. Results were compared among subgroups defined by intra-pair relationship, surrogate’s decision-making confidence, and healthcare-preferences familiarity. Results Mean (SD) age was 35.4 (10.3) years, 69% were females, and 73 and 80% reported ≥ very good health and life-quality, respectively. Mean surrogate’s decision-making confidence score was 3.35 (0.58) and 75% were ≥ familiar with pair’s healthcare-preferences. Mean (95% confidence interval) projection, simulation, and adjusted-simulation correlations were 0.68 (0.67–0.69), 0.42 (0.40–0.44), and 0.26 (0.24–0.28), respectively. Out of 180 respondent-surrogate Q-sorts, 24, 9, and 32% co-loaded with respondent-personal, pair-personal, or both Q-sorts, respectively. Accuracy in predicting decision-control preference and healthcare-outcomes acceptability was 47 and 52%, respectively. Surrogate’s decision-making confidence score correlated with adjusted-simulation’s correlation score (rho = 0.18, p = 0.01). There were significant differences among the husband-wife, parent-child, and sibling-sibling subgroups in percentage of respondent-surrogate Q-sorts co-loading with pair-personal Q-sorts (38, 32, 55%, respectively, p = 0.03) and percent agreement on healthcare-outcomes acceptability (55, 35, and 67%, respectively, p = 0.002). Conclusions Despite high self-reported surrogate’s decision-making confidence and healthcare-preferences familiarity, family surrogates are variably inadequate in simulating life-story narratives. Simulation accuracy may not follow the next-of-kin concept and is 38% based on shared background. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12910-019-0368-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad M Hammami
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P O Box # 3354 (MBC 03), Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia. .,Alfaisal University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Kafa Abuhdeeb
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P O Box # 3354 (MBC 03), Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Sophia J S De Padua
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P O Box # 3354 (MBC 03), Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Areej Al-Balkhi
- Clinical Studies and Empirical Ethics Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P O Box # 3354 (MBC 03), Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
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Cox CE, White DB, Hough CL, Jones DM, Kahn JM, Olsen MK, Lewis CL, Hanson LC, Carson SS. Effects of a Personalized Web-Based Decision Aid for Surrogate Decision Makers of Patients With Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Ann Intern Med 2019; 170:285-297. [PMID: 30690645 PMCID: PMC7363113 DOI: 10.7326/m18-2335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Treatment decisions commonly have to be made in intensive care units (ICUs). These decisions are difficult for surrogate decision makers and often lead to decisional conflict, psychological distress, and treatments misaligned with patient preferences. Objective To determine whether a decision aid about prolonged mechanical ventilation improved prognostic concordance between surrogate decision makers and clinicians compared with a usual care control. Design Multicenter, parallel, randomized, clinical trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01751061). Setting 13 medical and surgical ICUs at 5 hospitals. Participants Adult patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation and their surrogates, ICU physicians, and ICU nurses. Intervention A Web-based decision aid provided personalized prognostic estimates, explained treatment options, and interactively clarified patient values to inform a family meeting. The control group received information according to usual care practices followed by a family meeting. Measurements The primary outcome was improved concordance on 1-year survival estimates, measured with the clinician-surrogate concordance scale (range, 0 to 100 percentage points; higher scores indicate more discordance). Secondary and additional outcomes assessed the experiences of surrogates (psychological distress, decisional conflict, and quality of communication) and patients (length of stay and 6-month mortality). Outcomes assessors were blinded to group allocation. Results The study enrolled 277 patients, 416 surrogates, and 427 clinicians. Concordance improvement did not differ between intervention and control groups (mean difference in score change from baseline, -1.7 percentage points [95% CI, -8.3 to 4.8 percentage points]; P = 0.60). Surrogates' postintervention estimates of patients' 1-year prognoses did not differ between intervention and control groups (median, 86.0% [interquartile range {IQR}, 50.0%] vs. 92.5% [IQR, 47.0%]; P = 0.23) and were substantially more optimistic than results of a validated prediction model (median, 56.0% [IQR, 43.0%]) and physician estimates (median, 50.0% [IQR, 55.5%]). Eighty-two intervention surrogates (43%) favored a treatment option that was more aggressive than their report of patient preferences. Although intervention surrogates had greater reduction in decisional conflict than control surrogates (mean difference in change from baseline, 0.4 points [CI, 0.0 to 0.7 points]; P = 0.041), other surrogate and patient outcomes did not differ. Limitation Contamination among clinicians could have biased results toward the null hypothesis. Conclusion A decision aid about prolonged mechanical ventilation did not improve prognostic concordance between clinicians and surrogates, reduce psychological distress among surrogates, or alter clinical outcomes. Decision support in acute care settings may require greater individualized attention for both the cognitive and affective challenges of decision making. Primary Funding Source National Institutes of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas B White
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (D.B.W., J.M.K.)
| | | | - Derek M Jones
- Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (C.E.C., D.M.J.)
| | - Jeremy M Kahn
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (D.B.W., J.M.K.)
| | - Maren K Olsen
- Duke University and the Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care at the Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina (M.K.O.)
| | | | - Laura C Hanson
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (L.C.H., S.S.C.)
| | - Shannon S Carson
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (L.C.H., S.S.C.)
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Pecanac KE, Brown RL, Steingrub J, Anderson W, Matthay MA, White DB. A psychometric study of the decisional conflict scale in surrogate decision makers. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2018; 101:1957-1965. [PMID: 30054105 PMCID: PMC6179906 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the psychometric properties of the 16-item Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) in surrogate decision makers. METHODS With a sample of 472 surrogates from intensive care units in five academic medical centers across the United States, we performed the analysis in five phases to 1) model the congeneric structure with confirmatory factor analysis and assess 2) internal consistency reliability, 3) the unidimensional or global assessment, 4) factorial invariance across surrogate gender, and 5) individual item influence on the domains. RESULTS The congeneric model fit the data, with all factor loadings (0.577-0.955) statistically significant at p < 0.05. All subdomains had acceptable internal consistency (0.751-0.981). The bifactor model supported the sub-domains or the global construct as appropriate measurement models. The DCS demonstrated invariance for use across surrogate genders. The most difficult item for surrogates to complete was "This decision is easy for me to make" [MNSQ Infit/Outfit: 2.37/3.27] and the easiest item was "I have enough advice to make a choice" [0.70/0.67]. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the DCS demonstrated good fit, and can be considered a valid and reliable tool to use with the surrogate population. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Measuring surrogate decisional conflict could be especially useful to determine how to improve the decision-making process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roger L Brown
- School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
| | - Jay Steingrub
- Baystate Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, USA
| | - Wendy Anderson
- Division of Palliative Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Michael A Matthay
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Douglas B White
- Program on Ethics and Decision Making in Critical Illness, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
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Carnahan JL, Inger L, Young RS, Slaven JE, Torke AM. Factors Associated With Posthospital Nursing Facility Discharge for Patients With Impaired Decision Making. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2018; 19:916-917. [PMID: 30097255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Carnahan
- Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Indianapolis, IN; Regenstrief Institute Inc, Indianapolis, IN; Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Lev Inger
- Regenstrief Institute Inc, Indianapolis, IN
| | | | - James E Slaven
- Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Biostatistics, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Alexia M Torke
- Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Indianapolis, IN; Regenstrief Institute Inc, Indianapolis, IN; Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN; Evans Center for Spiritual and Religious Values in Healthcare, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN; Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart G Finder
- Center for Healthcare Ethics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, TSB 240, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
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