The effects on nurses of treatment-withdrawal decisions made in ICUs and SCBUs.

This descriptive study explores the effects on nurses of treatment-withdrawal decisions made in ten ICUs and two SCBUs in Southern England. The study focused on the decision-making process, the reasons given in support of a decision to withdraw, the actions taken subsequently and the nurses' roles throughout the proceedings. Nurses' feelings were then explored about the decision, their ability to participate in ethical debate, the amount of influence they had on events and about the best and worst aspects of the situations described.