Despite knowing that medical intervention would be of benefit, his doctors had to respect his wife’s decision to sign the DNR forms. He passed away that night, with her by his side.
I met this couple during my care of the elderly attachment. This man had suffered from a stroke and rapidly deteriorated. His wife, a devout Christian, strongly believed that it was her husband’s time to go and requested the suspension of treatment for recent onset of pneumonia, I was privileged to sit in the consultation with his wife and observe the discussion. After this meeting I visited this couple on numerous occasions not only because of my interest in this case but also to observe how the medical team handled this situation.
After chatting about my love of photography she asked me to take photos of her husband for memories of their last moments together. I told her about my creative assignment and she was very keen for me to use the images. I also gained consent from her regarding the possible publication.
The night this photograph was taken he passed away. I was very moved by this couple’s situation and also by the excellent way in which the medical team respected his wife’s views.
I really like this piece, it captures a moment that is about the patient and his wife and not just the medical treatment.
I’m glad the student felt that the couple were well supported by the medical staff. The photo is very moving but I wonder if the man would have wanted to have his photo taken.
This piece really emphasizes the importance of not just treating the patient but taking into account the relationships between the family too and remembering they may need support as its something that i imagine could be easy to forget.
The way they are holding hands really shows the support both she is giving him and he has provided her. Especially at such a difficult time.
This image, to me, has captured the vulnerability a patient and their immediate family feel in difficult situations. They are both relying on each other, the help of healthcare professionals does not replace the strength found in friends and family. Significantly, this wife chose to decline treatment, against professional opinion. This shows the importance of taking into account each individual case and allowing the patient and family choice in doing what is right for the patient.
This image shows that sometimes, in spite of how much you might care for a loved one, the kindest thing is to let them go. It is for the medical team responsible for the patient in question to respect the wishes of the family, and accept that their treatment can only prolong life for so long.
All so often, I have seen this image in reality in my years of work in the health care field. Many loved ones hold their hands and watched their loved ones end this life’s journey and pass into the next. I myself have experienced this also on a personal level. Respecting the patient when they have come to terms with dying, is a brave step for families to do and as health care professionals we can be there to guide and support them in giving our patients a good death.
This photo shows human connection and support at its purest. For me it represents love, peace and sadness, and the quote at the beginning makes this piece of art even more touching. It is important to keep in mind that doctors don’t only influence their patients, they influence the entire families. It can be also seen as a reminder that when doctors are treating their tenth, fifteenth, twentieth patient in a day, they are always treating someone’s son, daughter, partner, parent.
To me this image feels vulnerable and hugely intimate; it is an insight in to the depth of connection between these two people and to the respect both the wife has for her husband but also into the respect of the medical profession and the doctors themselves to this couple, in allowing a patient to pass even though they have the ability to prevent it. While it may be the kindest thing to do to withhold treatment and respect the family’s wishes it is still hugely painful to allow a patient, or even for the wife her husband to pass knowing that in a way it is a choice. For the wife to allow the medical student such an intimate part of a time like this is surprising and therefore feels even more raw.
This image portrays the sadness but also peace that can come with death. The wife’s love for her husband is conveyed even more by letting him go when he needed to, choosing not to continue with medical treatment must have been heartbreaking for her. The presence of the wife and her comforting hand holding in the photo shows the impact of a relative’s death on the people around them. The doctor’s role here changes, it is no longer to treat until the patient is well, but to allow the patient dignity during death and respect for the relative’s decision. This one image reveals so many emotions and feelings in one place in time.
I found this piece incredibly moving, it reminds us of the privilege that we have as healthcare professionals and medical students, where our patients allow us to be with them at their most vulnerable and intimate moments. As medical students, we are taught of our duty to care for patients and to do what’s in their best interests always. However, in many situations, to treat and intervene may not always be the kindest option. We must remember to respect patient autonomy with capacity, consider family wishes and the value that some patients find in dying with dignity. Being able to make decisions such as this one can allow the patients and their families to make the most of their final moments together and take back control. It is also interesting to note the impact of faith on his wife’s decision making, and how perhaps her religious beliefs could support her in processing her husband’s passing.
This picture captures the intense sadness but deep intimacy that can be involved with losing a loved one. I love that the focus is on the touch as opposed to the patient, representing the significance of touch for both the dying patient and his wife, in his final moments. The simplicity of the title “Touch” and the fact that the picture is black and white display how even the smallest actions can provide huge comfort in times of need.