When should you honor a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order?

Honoring a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a decision that is primarily based on the presence of appropriate documentation, which typically includes a DNR form signed by the patient or their authorized representative and a physician. This paperwork indicates the patient's explicit wishes regarding resuscitation in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest.

When appropriate documentation is available, it provides clear legal and ethical guidance for healthcare providers. It is essential to ensure that this documentation is valid and aligns with the regulations and laws of the jurisdiction in which care is being provided. Only with this proper paperwork can a healthcare professional respect the wishes of the patient to not receive resuscitative efforts, as it serves as an official record of informed consent to refuse such interventions.

A request from family members, regardless of their intentions, does not constitute sufficient authority to override or modify the established DNR wishes of the patient. Additionally, confirmation from a physician is necessary in some cases, but it must be based on the context of existing documents. Lastly, while recognizing that a patient’s condition may be irreversible is part of clinical judgment, it does not solely validate the honoring of a DNR order without the requisite written directives being in place.