Table 6.

Respondents who want their doctors to make treatment decisions after obtaining input from the DPA [family]^* (selected; verbatim)

Doctors have experience/medical knowledge
The doctor abreast of intellect and is more knowledgeable than my family. Most members of my family dropped out of college.
Family involves emotion that might cloud their judgment. Doctors can make impartial decisions. Doctors have the most knowledge and should give the best idea b/c I have faith in doctors.
The doctor has more medical and technical experience, since my family is primarily uneducated, and they probably would not make the right decision.
I trust doctors
The doctors would be more willing to make the decision to cut life support where I would have little quality of life.
I trust my doctor a lot
My doctor would make the best judgement by considering both their opinion and my family’s opinion and would weigh the two accurately.
DPA [family] would not understand/is too emotional/does not know me
I don’t feel comfortable with my family members making decision, even though I know they love me.
Because my DPA is not a doctor. And a doctor because of their studies in the medical field will be able to help and provide the care and treatment I will need.
I would rather have the doctors make all decisions because family thinks on emotion, not on fact.
My doctors have a more rational, objective point of view. My family still ought to have some say, but they are probably too stressed to make a sound final decision.
Impact on DPA [family]
It put burden & stress on family, sometimes it cause conflict to the family members. I have seen it happen before time after time.

^*Respondents are those who selected the answer category: “My doctors should make the decisions after asking my DPA [family] which treatment my DPA [family] thinks makes the most sense”