Family and Physicians' Views of Surrogate Decision-Making: The Roles and How to Choose

1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Silberfeld ◽  
Rivka Grundstein-Amado ◽  
Derek Stephens ◽  
Raisa Deber

Physicians and family members were compared on the roles played in surrogate decision-making and their views as to how choices should be made by surrogate decision-makers. Thirty-six family members of patients with Alzheimer's disease, 35 family members of patients with schizophrenia, and 34 physicians from a diversity of specialties were the respondents. There was general agreement that shared decision-making was preferred. Physicians seem to make surrogate decisions in accordance with contemporary views about their roles. Families believed they had a strong subjective appreciation of the patient's overall good. The burden of decision-making was geater for families, but that depended to some degree on the diagnosis of the patient.

2018 ◽  
pp. 265-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Y. Hwang ◽  
Douglas B. White

This chapter provides an overview of prognostication and key topics in ethics as they relate to the practice of neurocritical care. Challenges with prognostication are summarized. Outcome prognostication tools for ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury are outlined along with a discussion of their limitations. Best practices for communicating prognosis are reviewed. Shared decision-making with surrogate decision-makers in intensive care units is discussed in detail, with attention to advance care planning documentation and resolution of situations in which clinicians may have conscientious objections to potentially inappropriate treatment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. P595-P595
Author(s):  
Marleen Kunneman ◽  
Wiesje M. van der Flier ◽  
Femke H. Bouwman ◽  
Niki S.M. Schoonenboom ◽  
Marissa D. Zwan ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Feltz

AbstractAn estimated 1 in 4 elderly Americans need a surrogate to make decisions at least once in their lives. With an aging population, that number is almost certainly going to increase. This paper focuses onfinancialsurrogate decision making. To illustrate some of the empirical and moral implications associated with financial surrogate decision making, two experiments suggest that default choice settings can predictably influence some surrogate financial decision making. Experiment 1 suggested that when making hypothetical financial decisions, surrogates tended to stay with default settings (OR = 4.37, 95% CI 1.52, 12.48). Experiment 2 replicated and extended this finding suggesting that in a different context (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.1, 4.65). Experiment 2 also suggested that those who were more numerate were less likely to be influenced by default settings than the less numerate, but only when the decision is whether to “opt in” (p= .05). These data highlight the importance of a recent debate about “nudging.” Defaults are common methods to nudge people to make desirable choices while allowing the liberty to choose otherwise. Some of the ethics of using default settings to nudge surrogate decision makers are discussed.


Author(s):  
Wiesje M. van der Flier ◽  
Marleen Kunneman ◽  
Femke H. Bouwman ◽  
Ronald C. Petersen ◽  
Ellen M.A. Smets

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Tanaka ◽  
Kayoko Ohnishi ◽  
Aya Enzo ◽  
Taketoshi Okita ◽  
Atsushi Asai

Abstract Background Surrogate decision-making is expected to become more prevalent in Japanese clinical practice. In recent years, activities to promote advanced care planning (ACP) have gathered momentum ,which may potentially affect the ways in which judgments are made in surrogate decision-making. The purpose of this study is to clarify the current judgment grounds on which surrogate decisions are made in Japan. Methods We adopted a qualitative research method that was based on semi-structured interviews to reveal the judgement grounds in surrogate decision-making involving critical, life-related choices in acute hospitals. Results We interviewed 15 participants. We analyzed the content of the 14 transcribed texts, eliminating one text that does not meet the inclusion criteria. We extracted a total of 4 core categories, 17 categories, 35 subcategories, and 55 codes as an analysis results of interviews regarding the judgment grounds in surrogate decision-making. The four categories are as follows: type 1“Patient preference-oriented factor”, type2“Patient interest-oriented factor”, type3“Family preference-oriented factor”,and type4 “Balanced patient/family preference-oriented factor”. Conclusions This study revealed the current status of surrogate decision-making in Japan: when making decisions about important matters related to a patient’s life, surrogate decision-makers base their decisions not only on the preferences and best interests of the patient, but on their own preferences as well. Included in the preferences of surrogate decision-makers were their own views of life and death, their values, and care burden. Given the cultural and social backgrounds in Japan, it remains unclear whether ACP can be properly reflected in judgment grounds in surrogate decision-making. It would be undesirable to base judgments solely on the principle of respect for autonomy or the principles of surrogate decision-making. In the future, we believe that surrogate decisions-makers will be required to consider the judgment grounds from a more diverse perspective and that such attitudes should be ethically accepted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Tanaka ◽  
Kayoko Ohnishi ◽  
Aya Enzo ◽  
Taketoshi Okita ◽  
Atsushi Asai

Abstract Background In the coming years, surrogate decision-making is expected to become highly prevalent in Japanese clinical practice. Further, there has been a recent increase in activities promoting advance care planning, which potentially affects the manner in which judgements are made by surrogate decision-makers. This study aims to clarify the grounds on which surrogate decision-makers in Japan base their judgements. Methods In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted to examine the judgement grounds in surrogate decision-making for critical life-sustaining treatment choices in acute care hospitals. Results A total of 228 participants satisfied the inclusion criteria, and 15 were selected for interviews. We qualitatively analysed the content of 14 interview transcripts, excluding one that did not meet the inclusion criteria. Based on this analysis, we extracted 4 core categories, 17 categories, 35 subcategories, and 55 codes regarding judgement grounds in surrogate decision-making. The four core categories were as follows: patient preference-oriented factor (Type 1), patient interest-oriented factor (Type 2), family preference-oriented factor (Type 3), and balanced patient/family preference-oriented factor (Type 4). The Type 4 core category represented attempts to balance the preferences of the patient with those of the surrogate decision-maker. Conclusions Surrogate decision-makers based their decisions on important aspects related to a patient’s life, and they considered not only the patient’s preferences and best interests but also their own preferences. As the need for surrogate decisions will increase in the future, decision-makers will need to consider judgement grounds from a more diverse perspective.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Tanaka ◽  
Seiji Bito ◽  
Aya Enzo ◽  
Takethoshi Okita ◽  
Asai Atsushi

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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