The Daughters Who Carry the Decision

This research explores the experiences of women who made the decision to withdraw life support from their mothers after a sudden, unexpected illness or injury. It aims to better understand the emotional, physical, and existential impacts of this profound experience.

The interview lasts around 60–90 minutes, and there’s time afterwards to talk about how you’re feeling.

Interviews can be held in person or online, depending on what feels safest and most comfortable for you. If we meet in person, I’ll arrange a private space close to your home and reimburse reasonable travel costs.

There is no payment for participating, but reasonable travel expenses for in-person interviews will be reimbursed.

We’ll first have a brief phone call to answer your questions, confirm you meet the study criteria, and explain the consent process. You’ll also be asked to complete a short wellbeing questionnaire.

Yes, with your permission, the interview will be audio recorded to ensure accurate transcription. The recording will be deleted after it’s transcribed and anonymised.

No. Everything you share will be kept strictly confidential and anonymised. Your identity will not appear in any publications, presentations, or reports.

Absolutely. You can withdraw from the study at any time up to two weeks after your interview, and all your data will be securely destroyed.

No. This research is separate from therapy and is purely for academic and research purposes. It’s about understanding your experiences, not diagnosing or treating anything.

Yes, if you’d like to. I’ll offer participants a copy of the final research when it’s complete.

You might find it helpful to talk about your experience, knowing that your story could help others in similar situations and contribute to new research on this topic.

Yes, some questions might bring up difficult feelings or memories. You can pause or stop the interview at any time. Afterward, I’ll provide you with a debriefing sheet with details for professional support services.

Your data will be anonymised and securely stored on an encrypted USB drive and backed up on a secure server. Paper records will be kept in a locked filing cabinet. All data will be confidentially destroyed after 10 years.

Yes. This research has been reviewed and approved by the NSPC Ethics Sub-committee and Middlesex University Psychology Department Ethics Committee.

If you have questions about the study, contact me at MB2252@live.mdx.ac.uk or 07588 446786. If you have concerns about the research or wish to make a complaint, you can contact my supervisor, Dr. Charlotte Harkness charlottekharkness@gmail.com or call 020 4534 3030.