[Incidence and content of written guidelines for "do not resuscitate" orders. Survey at six different somatic hospitals in Oslo].
This paper presents the incidence of, and contents of guidelines for do-not-resuscitate orders (DNR orders) in somatic hospital departments in Oslo. Only five out of 14 departments had written guidelines. There was a wide range of contents concerning illness criteria, decision-making responsibility and patient and family participation in the decision-making process. We find that there is a need for written guidelines for the use of DNR orders and present a template for the appropriate use of such orders. The proper use of DNR orders will prevent futile cardiopulmonary resuscitation and hopefully bring about a discussion on the ethical aspects of treatment decisions in hospital departments.
Søvik
O
O
Senter for medisinsk etikk, Oslo.
Naess
A C
AC
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D003657:Decision Making; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D016414:Resuscitation Orders