What's Up With DNR's - Do Not Resuscitate Order for the Elderly?

If you're medically inclined, you better know what a DNR means. For patients or special someone's of patients, DNR stands for "Do Not Resuscitate", let nature run its course, or to put it more bluntly, the patient is on his own if this order is given.

If the patient would have a shock, a brain attack or a heart attack after this order has been given, the nurses would not give any medical procedure that could lead to the elderly patient's revival. It may sound strange to some people who are not exposed to the clinical setting a lot but in actuality, one may realize its importance along the way.

This order is generally given to elderly patients who usually reside in a nursing home. These patients who are often neglected and abused, usually have a terminal stage disease or illness and they usually have a 50/50 chance of surviving, that is, if they would ever function fully after they would recover.

You may ask: Who's gonna call the DNR order?

Usually, the patient's family would decide among themselves. Their decision would be guided upon by the doctor's diagnosis of the elderly patient's condition, his chances of survival, and overall prognosis. These factors, among others, are the basis of the family members to decide whether or not to give the Do Not Rescusitate Order.

What is the Ethical Basis of giving a DNR?

Personally, I hate giving ethical comments on issues on my line of work because people would not understand unless they are in someone's position like for instance, the patient who cannot verbally say it but would prefer to die than suffer excruciating pain every single second of their living days, or the family members who are paying massive amount of money every day for keeping a terminally ill elderly patient who's on coma and if given the chance to live, be on a certain vegetative state.

You see, its not a choice of yes or no (I really hope its as simple) but rather a cafeful weighing and sifting of pro's and con's, shades of whites and blacks and everything in between. When it comes down to it, in the clinical setting, I just hope and pray the family is doing the right thing. That's the best I can do for the patient at this time.

That's it for today's post folks. I would like to leave you on a reflective note by asking you the following questions:

What would you have done if you were the nurse? If youre one of the family members? What about if youre the patient?

Related Keywords: DNR orders, nursing home abuse, nursing negligence, nursing malpractice