Determining resuscitation status: a survey of medical professionals.
Regarding the determination of resuscitation status (RS) and the writing of do-not-resuscitate orders, we compared the recent Presidential Guidelines with the attitudes and perceptions of 143 medical professionals in a major medical center. Seventy-four percent of respondents believed that RS was primarily determined by the physician. Only 1% believed the patient decides and a minority (40%) believed the patient should decide; 61% would want to decide for themselves if they were ill. Most respondents agreed that neither patients nor staff were well-informed about the individual patient's RS. When presented case vignettes requiring a decision about RS, the respondents frequently chose a RS contrary to the wishes of a competent patient. The findings of this survey point to the significant differences between the Presidential Commission's guidelines and the actual attitudes and perceived practices of clinicians.
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Perry
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Schwartz
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Amchin
D026683:Advisory Committees; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D005065:Euthanasia; D005066:Euthanasia, Passive; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010358:Patient Participation; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011570:Psychiatry; D012151:Resuscitation