They may feel guilty about past events in their relationship with the dying person or feel that they have been neglectful. These common emotions can result in tension, fights between family members over decisions, worsened care, and sometimes (in what medical professionals call the "Daughter from California syndrome") a long-absent family member arrives while a patient is dying to demand inappropriately aggressive care.
They may experience regret over past interactions with the person who is terminally ill or feel that they have been inadequate. This can lead to tension, disagreements among family members regarding care decisions, worsened care, and sometimes (as described by medical professionals as the "Daughter from California syndrome") a long-absent relative arrives while the patient is dying to demand inappropriately aggressive treatment.