Do Not Attempt cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNAR)
There are instances when a person’s health may or has deteriorated to a level where resuscitation would if successful leave them in a worse condition compared to before their heart or lungs stopped working. Some examples include patients with terminal cancer, Motor Neurone Disease or other condition where life expectancy is poor. Although doctors do not require patient/family consent to implement a DNAR, it is usual practice for doctors to discuss DNARs with the patient or where difficult to discuss with next of kin.
Usually completed by a GP or a hospital doctor, there is no time limit on a DNAR and can be indefinite. If the persons condition change, there is a requirement to review the DNAR in place.
If you disagree with a DNAR, you should book an appointment with your GP to discuss. A clinician attending should have access to any DNAR in place which may be a copy of the document at the patients home and on both the GP system as well as the local out of hours GP service database. Wishes relating to DNAR can be recorded in an Advance Decision document (Living Will).
If you have not heard of a DNAR and you or someone close to you has a terminal illness, then talk to your GP or any healthcare provider that you may have appointments with to further understand the current position. To have a DNAR in place you do not have to be terminal and can record your wishes based on circumstances within an Advanced Decision document (Living Will) and inform your GP of your wishes and were possible share a copy of the document.
A DNAR is not legally binding, and a clinician may depend on the circumstances decide not to accept the request and initiate resuscitation, in the event the person is revived if the reason for undertaking the resuscitation is not justifiable there could be legal consequences.