title: Not for resuscitation instructions: the law for adult patients in the UK.
abstract: Case Scenario: Marion, aged 55 years, has suffered from multiple sclerosis for 10 years and had reached the stage where she was wheelchair bound and had become extremely depressed. She was admitted to hospital for review of her medication and treatment plan. She discussed with a nurse what should happen in the event of her suffering a cardiac arrest and stated that she would not wish to be resuscitated. She had not discussed this with her relatives, nor had she put the instructions in writing. Two days later, when her daughter was visiting her, she had a cardiac arrest. Her daughter was anxious every effort should be made to resuscitate her and asked the nurse to call the arrest team. However, the nurse said that Marion had told her that she did not want to be resuscitated and that was therefore binding upon her. The daughter disagreed. What is the law?
authors.affiliation: University of Glamorgan.
authors.forename: Bridgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dimond
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016414:Resuscitation Orders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D020458:Third-Party Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006113:United Kingdom; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence