title: Allow-natural-death (AND) orders: legal, ethical, and practical considerations.
abstract: Conversations with patients and families about the allow-natural-death (AND) order, along with the standard do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order during end-of-life (EOL) decision-making, may create engagement and understanding while promoting care that can be defended using enduring notions of autonomy, beneficence, and professional duty. Ethical, legal, and pragmatic issues surrounding EOL care decision-making seem to suggest discussion of AND orders as one strategy clinicians could consider at the individual practice level and at institutional levels. A discussion of AND orders, along with traditional DNR orders is presented. This is followed by argument and counter-argument focused on ethical, legal, and practical issues germane to EOL care decision-making associated with use of AND orders.
authors: Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698, USA. mcschlai@valdosta.edu
authors: Maura C
authors: MC
authors: Schlairet
authors: Richard W
authors: RW
authors: Cohen
mesh_terms: D026686:Beneficence; D002410:Catholicism; D003643:Death; D006801:Humans; D016414:Resuscitation Orders / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*