Understanding Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders: Legal and Ethical Considerations

Running head: NOT FOR RESUSCITATION ORDERS
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Introduction
It is important to have a proper understanding of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order legal
and the ethical decision making for proper flow in the healthcare industry. DNR order is where
the physician offers instructions to restrict resuscitative efforts when a patient stops breathing or
when the heart stops beating. The DNR order is supposed to reduce the suffering of a patient by
ensuring that there are limited machines used to facilitate breathing and heartbeat. According to
BBC (2014) DNR order is passive euthanasia with the aim of reducing the negative effects of
resuscitation such as broken ribs, fractures, and brain damage. The restarting of heart or
breathing for terminally ill patients aims at increasing the days of the person. The DNR order is
done by a physician with consultation with the next of kin of the patient. It is a process that
requires the consent of other individuals of the family for proper execution of the order.
According to Meikle (2011) the decision to do not resuscitate requires trust with the people
involved in the wellbeing of the patient. Doctors analyse the condition of an individual in
understanding whether resuscitate while suffering a cardiac arrest. Kevin, Brownyn and the nurse
had a heated discussion over the not for resuscitating decision. Beauchamp and Childress four
ethical principles are used in coming up with a sound decision on medical issues (Page, 2012).
The essay argues the need for using respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and
justice for medical ethics.
Not for Resuscitate (DNR) order
The DNR order aims at reducing the suffering of a patient by offering a merciful death or
health without assistance from resuscitate machines. The primary reason for DNR order is an
incurable or prolonged illness that is causing suffering to an individual. In coming up with the

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decision, the medics are required to evaluate the situation of the individual continuously.
Terminally ill patients are provided with the option to reduce the suffering of due to the disease.
The doctors are required to evaluate the situation of a patient in determining the proper decision
to implement between continued treatment and DNR order (Rodriguez-Miranda et al. 2015). The
suffering of an individual should be considered in developing a proper decision to implement for
a person. Diseases conditions such as stroke can cause suffering to an individual for a long time
requiring using a proper plan that will reduce the pain. According to Azad et al. (2014), the DNR
order options are provided with the right to die for patients having severe or prolonged pains.
The compassionate death of the terminally ill patients is performed after there is exhausting of all
treatment methods for the individual (Aladangady et al. 2016). The doctors are required to
provide the essential information to the patients with terminal illness to reduce unfair treatment.
The treatment of terminal illness requires financial resources thus DNR order is used by
individuals to reduce suffering and save money to the family.
Doctors and family accept DNR order due to a reduced ability to perform daily life
activities making life hard (Robinson et al. 2017). The patients are required to stay in their beds
leading to autonomy which reduces self-esteem and confidence which is a vital aspect of life.
Terminal illness makes an individual lose dignity due to the increased dependence on other
people to perform basic activities in life. Inadequate treatment of various diseases makes it hard
for people to have a sustainable life which may lead to DNR order decision. It is crucial for the
doctors to focus on the welfare of the family and community before implementing the DNR
order decision as instructed by the patient. Evidence of extended suffering to an individual is
used in accepting the decision to end life (Emanuel et al. 2016). Terminal illness by an individual
makes one have a negative approach to life due to the uncertainties and fears in the life of dying.

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The patient or the medics may use DNR to reduce the cases of fears of the future of an individual
due to the prolonged illness.
Respect for autonomy is where individuals have a decision to apply in advance to use
DNR order in reducing pain (Galambos et al. 2016). Every person has a right to an existence
where one can make a decision not to be resuscitated. Kevin, Bronwyn and the nurse are
expected to decide as Dawn has a massive stroke making her unconscious. There are negative
effects of resuscitating which requires an individual to consider death in case there are breathing
and heart issue. Beauchamp and Childress state that it is important to respect the decision of an
individual about the extreme measures taken when there is terminal illness (Gillon 2015).
Paternalistic is done when a capable adult makes the decision to the children against the use
resuscitate. The informed decision is aimed at ensuring that the patients intentionally understand
the effects of DNR order. The respect for autonomy is done voluntary by an individual to deal
with the issue of a condition that leads a person with breathing and heart beating problem. The
informed consent ensures that there is a proper flow of operations in the health sector. According
to Osborne (2016), there are over 200,000 patients issued with the DNR order without the
consent of the patient or family who is against the rule of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Beneficence is performed to ensure that there is no harm to other individuals involved in
a particular operation (Pettersson, Hedstrom & Hoglund 2016). Especially in organ transplant, it
is important to ensure that there is consideration of the interest of both parties. The nurse is
expected to make an informed decision due to her knowledge of the illness. Kevin and Bronwyn
should accept the decision of the nurse as she acts in the best interests of the patient. The health
workers are expected to work towards the best interest of a patient for the achievement of the
desired social production level. The DNR order is supposed to offer a positive step to an