Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - Essay Example The decision of â€Å"do not resuscitate† is made by the patient if he is functionally able to convey it. If otherwise, the family members may have to make the decision when it is called surrogate decision (Torke, 2011). The subject has been the topic of discussion along with other end-of-life decisions due to the ethical and legal bearings (Sham et al, 2007). The decisions on the withholding of the treatment for the sustenance of life would be relaying the message that the patient accepts the progression of the disease and that he trusts the healing physician. There will be an underlying desire to reduce the burden on others. The wish to live and die naturally could also be influencing his decision (Sham et al, 2007). Research has elicited various factors influencing the doctors when the DNR (do not resuscitate) orders are made. These are based on the themes of a probability of survival, the desire of the patient, the quality of life prior to present illness and the quality e xpected after it (Sham et al, 2007). Federal and State policies in the US advice advance care planning where the patient may be encouraged to make his decision for other end-of-life decisions but DNR has been excluded (Sham et al, 2007). The BBC News has reported that the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing in the UK have issued guidelines which indicated that the DNR orders could be issued only in consultation with the patients and families (BBC Ethics Guide, 2011). In Australia, the not-for-resuscitation (NFR) orders formed part of the medical practice but policies have still not yet provided a fool-proof method of implementation (Sidhu et al, 2007). Researchers indicate that current policies showroom for improvement: there are no standardised forms or patient information leaflets (Sidhu et al, 2007). A clinical audit had been conducted by Salins and Jansen as a retrospective study to determine the accuracy of documentation of NFR orders in patients who had died at the Lyell McEwin Hospital (2011).   This hospital was part of a teaching hospital in South Australia in 2007.   Eighty-eight files could be accessed for information.