Marsden C
University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Am J Crit Care. 1992 Nov;1(3):115-7.
The patient was dying after undergoing aggressive treatment for a malignancy. Patient and family wanted "everything" to be done and the patient was transferred to the ICU for treatment of acute respiratory failure. The next day the patient's condition deteriorated further. The family decided against chest compressions or defibrillation; however, other aggressive treatment was continued. A "chemical code" was initiated and the patient was ventilated. The family was informed. As they stood in the hall outside the unit, the patient's wife asked if she could be with her husband. A nurse explained what she would see and accompanied her to the bedside. She stood at the head of the bed, stroked her husband's head and spoke softly in his ear. The patient's son came to the bedside and said his last words to his father. The wife was present when treatment was stopped and the patient was pronounced dead. She said to the nurse who had accompanied her, "You have given me the greatest gift possible--you allowed me to be with my husband at the end."
这位患者在接受了针对恶性肿瘤的积极治疗后生命垂危。患者及其家属希望采取“一切”措施，于是患者被转至重症监护病房治疗急性呼吸衰竭。第二天，患者的病情进一步恶化。家属决定不进行胸外按压或除颤；然而，其他积极的治疗仍在继续。启动了“药物抢救”，患者接受了通气治疗。家属被告知情况。当他们站在病房外的走廊时，患者的妻子问她是否可以陪在丈夫身边。一名护士向她解释了她将会看到的情景，并陪她来到病床边。她站在床头，轻抚着丈夫的头，在他耳边轻声细语。患者的儿子来到床边，向父亲说了最后几句话。妻子在停止治疗、患者被宣告死亡时在场。她对陪她的护士说：“你给了我一份可能是最伟大的礼物——你让我在最后时刻陪伴着我的丈夫。”
