Reframing Resuscitation: From Termination to Withdrawal of Life Support with Darren Braude

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remains one of the most emotionally complex and ethically challenging events in pre-hospital care. Families can transition from normality to devastating loss within minutes, while clinicians must make rapid, high-stakes decisions that often leave a lasting emotional impact. Traditionally, EMS practice has centred on the moment of “termination of resuscitation”, a clinical decision that often results in abrupt death notifications and limited family involvement. But a growing body of work challenges this model, suggesting that it may unintentionally amplify trauma for both families and providers.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dr Darren Braude, Paramedic, Director of the Centre for Prehospital Resuscitation and ECMO, Chief of the Division of Prehospital, Austere and Disaster Medicine. Dr Braude is one of the leading voices behind a powerful reframing: viewing the end of resuscitative efforts not as termination, but as the withdrawal of life support.

Borrowing principles from ICU end-of-life care, this approach centres families, promotes clearer communication, and acknowledges that CPR and ventilation are themselves forms of life support. Today, we explore how this model can transform the way EMS navigates death, grief, and humanity in the field. You can read the article this interview is based on here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40928306/

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