Not for resuscitative treatment.
The nurse is accountable for her actions. A defence of 'obeying orders' will not always be acceptable. Decisions made by mentally competent adults prevail. A living will is not recognized in the English legal system. Relatives do not have the legal power to make treatment decisions on behalf of a mentally incapacitated adult but their views should be sought. The practitioner must act in the patients' best interests but this does not mean that life should be preserved regardless of quality.
Dimond
B
B
D003144:Communication Barriers; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011379:Prognosis; D016414:Resuscitation Orders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006113:United Kingdom