Dual Identities of Family Physicians Caring for Their Dying Family Members: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Although professional guidance generally discourages physicians from treating their own family members, family physicians often become involved in caring for dying relatives. However, little is known about how they experience caring for dying relatives. This study aims to explore how family physicians made sense of caring for a dying family member while simultaneously inhabiting the roles of physician and family member.

METHODS: We conducted an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) of family physicians in Japan who had cared for a dying family member as the primary physician. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed iteratively according to the methodology of IPA, focusing on how participants made sense of their experiences.

RESULTS: Seven family physicians participated. Participants described a dynamic interplay between two identities, physician and family member, throughout the process of providing end-of-life care. Four interrelated themes were identified: negotiating for practical family needs, leading decision-making within the family contexts, redefining the best care, and using the physician role as both protection and connection. Participants fluidly navigated and integrated these identities. Care was guided less by biomedical correctness than by relational considerations, with participants balancing responsibility and emotional burden.

CONCLUSIONS: Caring for a dying family member involves not only role conflict but also the integration of professional and familial identities. This duality can enable context-sensitive and meaningful care while introducing ethical and emotional complexity. Rather than focusing solely on prohibiting such involvement, support should help physicians navigate these roles in practice.