Family Perspectives on End-of-Life Care After Surgery: Unresolved Narratives & Disempowerment

Researchers analyzed 936 open-text responses from bereaved families to explore their experiences with end-of-life care after surgery. The results revealed a belief in unnecessary pain and distrust in treatment decisions among respondents. Limited communication about disease severity and surgical risks led to conflicting narratives about the cause of death. Families expressed feelings of disempowerment when not involved in decision-making and their wishes were not respected. Timely and sensitive conversations, acknowledging uncertainty, were suggested to improve the experience for bereaved families.