Should parents be present during their child's resuscitation?

摘要

In my personal and professional opinion, the answer to this question is absolutely yes!!! Would you ever think twice about asking a father if he would like to be in the delivery room while his wife is giving birth to their newborn child? So why do we question if that same parent should be at his or her child's bedside when he or she is critically ill and requiring resuscitation? Instead, we as healthcare providers often escort them out of their child's room and have them sit in the waiting room. One can only imagine the thoughts running through the parents' minds while they sit wondering what is happening to their child. Is she scared? Is she going to die without me there? Is the staff doing everything possible to help my child?