title: A phenomenological study of ethical decision-making experiences among senior intensive care nurses and doctors concerning withdrawal of treatment.
abstract: The study compared and contrasted the experiences of senior doctors and nurses ethical decision making concerning the withdrawal of treatment. Doctors generally took the primary role in ethical decision making, leaving nurses acting as information brokers. Nurses suffered moral distress as a result of the decision to withdraw treatment, whilst doctors suffered moral dissonance. Doctors and nurses needed to come to terms with withdrawal of treatment. A model of communication which will enhance collaborative, multidisciplinary ethical decision making is suggested.
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, School of Nursing and Midwifery.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viney
mesh_terms: D026686:Beneficence; D003657:Decision Making; D004989:Ethics; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D033262:Narration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010820:Physicians; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012106:Research; D028761:Withholding Treatment