The Ethics of Supporting Bereaved Parents Following Traffic Crash Fatalities.

Yusrita Zolkefli

doi:10.21315/mjms2022.29.1.17

Abstract

We recognise that the death of a child is one of the most difficult events a family can experience. The article is based on a tragedy that occurred last year near Gunung Lang in Perak, Malaysia, in which a mother was the only survivor of a road accident in which she lost three young sons. It was reported that the husband, who was not involved in the crash, wanted to tell her about the loss. This raises two important moral questions: first, who would be the best person to break the news of the children’s death; second, what would be the healthcare professional’s ethical responsibility in advocating for and supporting the best interests of the bereaved parents? The case illustrates the need for further ethical reflection by healthcare professionals while supporting bereaved parents. Healthcare professionals must also be sensitive to their ethical responsibility to promote the best interests of grieving parents, which reflects higher vulnerability for bereaved parents.

Highlights

We recognise that the death of a child is one of the most difficult events a family can experience
Dear Editor, I read with profound sadness the news article entitled ‘3 children killed in North-South Expressway (NSE) crash were siblings, mom severely injured’, published in December 2020 [1]
Is it ethically permissible for the husband to take on the burden of the disclosure without having the required special skills? In a healthcare context, it is known that breaking news to patients has been a subject of professional concern for many years, with interest growing alongside a culture of increasing medical disclosure of diagnosis and prognosis

Summary

Introduction

We recognise that the death of a child is one of the most difficult events a family can experience. I would like to raise two important moral questions in the healthcare context: first, who would be the best person to break the news of the children’s death; and second, what would be the healthcare professional’s ethical responsibility in advocating for and supporting the best interests of the bereaved parents? This, compels healthcare professionals to elucidate if the husband understands the nature of breaking the news and whether such

Results

Conclusion