Table 5.

Discussing Values and Goals

Clinician: To summarize what we've talked about so far, you're willing to accept some treatments like CPR if there's a chance of them working, and also that you wouldn't want to be kept alive on machines in the ICU and be a vegetable if they don't work. Can you tell me a little more about why?

Patient: I don't think it's living if I can't be awake to see my kids. Plus, I don't want my family to see me like that and have to take care of me forever that way.

Clinician (reflection): To you, being alive means being able to be awake and to recognize your family.

Patient: That's right.

Clinician (open-ended question exploring values): What would be hard for you about deciding not to accept life support or things like CPR?

Patient: It would feel like I was giving up. I don't want to give up. I want to live as long as I can.

Clinician (reflection): Knowing that you can have CPR gives you a sense of hope. What else gives you hope?

(discussion continues)