title: The case of Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) orders and the intellectually disabled patient.
abstract: In the case of an intellectually disabled patient, the attending physician was restricted from writing a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order. Although the rationale for this restriction was to protect the patient from an inappropriate quality of life judgment, it resulted in a worse death than the patient would have experienced had he not been disabled. Such restrictions that are intended to protect intellectually disabled patients may violate their right to equal treatment and to a dignified death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Philosophy, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI, USA. leevermg@udmercy.edu
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Leever
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Peg
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Allman
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wyeth
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D010819:Physician's Role; D016414:Resuscitation Orders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012297:Right to Die / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence