BOSTON -- If a loved one were taken to the emergency room, would you want to be there as doctors tried to save his or her life?

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported Wednesday that the controversial idea of allowing family members to be present in emergency trauma rooms is becoming more common across the country.

While some are opposed to the idea, others say it provides great comfort for both the patient and the family.

When Denise Hanlon's father, Eddie, was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital with heart failure, the hospital did something she didn't expect -- invited her into the emergency room.

"It just seems, 'How could we not be with my dad if we had the opportunity to?'" Hanlon said.

It's a choice that's becoming more common among hospitals. By some accounts, close to half now let family members -- accompanied by a nurse -- into treatment rooms, even under life and death circumstances.

"They kiss the patient. They hug the patient. They stroke the patient while we are doing CPR," Massachusetts General Hospital nurse Patricia Mian said.

But some doctors question the new approach -- saying it could increase lawsuits and distract the medical team.

"Many of the things that we have to do in a trauma setting are done very quickly. They require, literally, split-second decisions, and can be quite invasive," University of Kansas Dr. Stephen Smith said.

Massachusetts General Hospital Chief of Emergency Services Dr. Alasdair Conn used to feel the same way. Now, he believes families can benefit from being with each other under such stressful circumstances.

"If you were dying, would you want to be alone? Would you like your wife or your brother or son or daughter to be 20 feet away? Or would you rather be in there, holding hands for those last three minutes," Conn said.

Hanlon appreciated being there to hold her dad's hand in the last moments of his life. The opportunity also gave her a new respect for ER professionals.

"It was traumatic to see him, although it was also heartwarming to see so many people trying to do the best they could," Hanlon said.