The Benefits of Informed Non-Dissent when Families have Difficulty Making a Decision

Abstract

Being a surrogate decision-maker is challenging for many people and having to decide to withdraw life sustaining therapies can be extremely difficult. Helping surrogates to refocus their decisions on informed non-dissent can greatly minimize unnecessary suffering for all involved. This case study describes how dignitary harm was minimized by using the concept of informed non-dissent.

Keywords

• Informed non-dissent
• withdrawing
• dignity
• harms
• family
• surrogate decision-maker