Family presence during CPR: new decisions in the twenty-first century.

At present, a great deal of controversy exists on whether family members should be allowed during the resuscitation of a loved one at a hospital. Literature reports that family presence is beneficial in some cases. However, other literature, in contrast, indicates this practice is not advantageous. This article discusses recent findings and explores pros and cons of family members' presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Making this information available to health care personnel provides information for future dialogue.