Table 3 Themes, subthemes, and meaning units regarding older residents regarding refusing to sign their own DNR directives
Content of themes | Content of subthemes | Condensed meaning units |
|---|---|---|
Not going against nature | 1. Over-thinking | (1) Unnecessary things |
(2) Useless things | ||
2. Natural life | (1) Taking it as it comes | |
(2) Following the mandate of nature | ||
Accepting the results of cause and effect | 1. ‘That’s karma’ | (1) Do good and receive good |
(2) Fate would have it so | ||
2. ‘That’s samsara’ | (1) The time has not arrived to discuss | |
(2) Fate is fulfilled (by what you have done in your present and past lives) | ||
Viewing the family as a decision-making system | 1. Thoughts of filial piety | (1) Fulfilling the value of filial piety |
(2) The responsibility of children | ||
2. Familism | (1) A sense of belonging to family | |
(2) Family-centred decision making | ||
3. Death and EOL care as a taboo | (1) A misfortunate word becomes reality | |
(2) Causing problems for family | ||
Practising self-effacement | 1. Everyone does his or her own part | (1) Making decisions for patients is doctors’ responsibility |
(2) Shifting the responsibility to others | ||
2. None of my business | (1) Having no ability to make one’s own decisions | |
(2) Everyone knows what to do |