A structured interview was conducted with families who had a loved one undergo a field terminated cardiac arrest in Denmark. What they found was pre-arrival instructions were very valued. And “After unsuccessful resuscitation, compassionate and unhurried communication was considered crucial.” I am sure this applies to prehospital and in hospital situations alike. Empathy and time are what these families need.
References
Skovbo, A., Jørck, C.L., Huniche, L. et al. When prehospital resuscitation attempts are unsuccessful: care for the relatives following termination of treatment in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med(2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-026-01689-z