BMJ 1994;308:1687-1689 (25 June)
Education and debate
Should relatives be allowed to watch resuscitation?
Workingham, Berkshire RG11 3ER Barnet General Hospital, Hertfordshire EN5 3DJ Department of Anaesthesia, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE Department of Cardiology, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh EH3 9YW Department of General Practice and Primary Care, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London SE5 9PJ.
The sudden death of someone after an accident at a public event can be difficult for relatives to cope with. Doctors' attention is focused on the patient, and the needs of relatives are often unheard. Sarah Adams describes her feelings when her brother died after falling from his horse at the Windsor international three day event, and a doctor who was on duty at the event gives his view. We asked an anaesthetist who was a member of the Resuscitation Council, a cardiologist who runs a resuscitation training course, and a general practitioner with a special interest in ethics to comment on Sarah Adams's wish to be present during attempts to resuscitate her brother.
A sister's experience
S Adams
My younger brother, Richard Adams, had spent the best part of his life riding and competing horses, the last four years professionally. On the day of the cross country phase of last year's . . . [Full text of this article]

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