Ethical Dilemma of DNR

Ethical Dilemma of DNR

Introduction

The Dictionary of Public Health has defined DNR as “a medical request issued by a doctor and/or patient or next of kin that,… in the event of cardiac and/or respiratory arrest,… no resuscitation measures should be conducted, but the patient should be allowed to die in comfort without heroic intervention”. Elderly adults and their family are being put to take hard end-of-life options about CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and its repudiation, DNR (do not resuscitate). These decisions are burdened with emotional anguishes and fears. Earlier, CPR was used only on patients suffering with heart attack and CPR might be beneficial for them. However, in the present days, it is used not exclusively for heart patients but for everyone. Even those patients too have been gone through DNR who are in a fatal state and there may be no benefit of CPR on them.

One of the perplexing factors is that CPR is considered to be very straightforward to comprehend. The general public does not grasp that the doctor when articulates about CPR, it includes medicines, ventilator support and cannulation. There is a possibility of occurrence of general misapprehension as people deem it as only an option of chemical code.

Discussion

The DNR order permits nature to get its path unrestricted because one is not carrying out all the things in one's power to delay death. (Gibson, 1991) According to Johnson this 'passive euthanasia' is not normally viewed as murdering. (Johnson, 1993) However, Rachels claimed that there is no distinction between active and passive euthanasia. (Rachels, 1975) The medical profession seems to come up with paternalistic decisions relating to the resuscitation condition of patients. With raised focus on patients' rights, in terms of keeping back resuscitation, the dilemmas experiencing by healthcare professionals concern not merely their ethical belief but also patient autonomy and professional obligation. Ellis proposed that ethics is a tool which can be employed to comprehend the issues and dilemmas that existing in regular professional practice. (Ellis,1993) A consideration of ethics may assist us to recognize these issues more thoroughly. For more understanding of the problem, the following example could be beneficial:

“My parents have asked me for their "health care proxy” and have informed me that they have signed a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) document. My parents are in their 70's and suffer from several serious medical illnesses.

Even though I have agreed to their proxy, I am torn between honoring my parents wish not to be resuscitated versus allowing the doctors to do everything possible to keep them alive should a life threatening condition arise.

When the day comes for me to do honor my parents wishes, what will be my reaction to this ethical dilemma? Should I respect their feelings and see them dying with a life long trauma of being responsible for not lending a hand to save their life or take the decision instead of honoring their wishes.”

The DNR option is critical for providing good quality treatment, as the encounter of resuscitation is not ...