Tough treatment decisions difficult for next of kin

NEW YORK - People who have to make treatment decisions for a seriously ill family member, including whether to continue or withdraw life support, may suffer emotional consequences as a result, according to a study.

At some point, nearly all critically ill people will become unable to make their own decisions about medical care. In those cases, the decisions fall to the next of kin by default, or to a healthcare "proxy" the patient has named in legal documents known as advance directives.

"We found a strong suggestion that it (making decisions) has a profound effect, and unfortunately it's often a negative one," said David Wendler of the US National Institutes of Health, who led the research team.