What does it mean to die a bad death? Provider perspectives in the surgical intensive care unit

Key Points

• Providers describe a bad death as one without dignity or suffering management, indicating a need for better palliative care.
• Critical evaluations highlight ethical dilemmas in surgical intensive care, which complicate end-of-life decision-making.
• Assessment of provider views sheds light on their experiences with treatment limitations, particularly regarding aggressive interventions.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering provider insights to enhance the quality of end-of-life care in intensive settings.