Lessons Learned Through the Voices of Surrogate Decision Makers of Patients With Severe Acute Brain Injury Years After Hospitalization

Kasra Sarhadi, Natalie L. Smith, Erin K. Kross, James A. Town, Sarah Wahlster, Claire J. Creutzfeldt, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at University of Washington, Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Washington, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Washington

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®

Published online on January 13, 2026

Abstract

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Ahead of Print.
Background and PurposeSevere acute brain injury (SABI) often occurs suddenly, profoundly impacting patients and their families. During the ICU stay, critical treatment decisions have to be made in the setting of prognostic uncertainty. We aimed to better ...