Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order among Terminally Ill Patients with Cancer: A Position Statement

Abstract

End-of-life (EOL) care takes an important place in critical care settings. Of it, one of the most serious and arguable decision is the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. The DNR is a legal order written by a licensed physician in consultation with the patients or their surrogate decision makers, in which the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is withhold at the time of cardiac or respiratory arrest. Many studies reported that many inpatient deaths had a DNR order. The purpose of this position statement paper is to present proponents and opponents’ viewpoints regarding the DNR orders for terminally ill patients with cancer. Proponents of the DNR order reported that it is a form of treatment that protects patients’ rights, and allows the terminally ill cancer patients to die peacefully without undergoing futile resuscitation attempts. Opponents of the DNR order are concerned with the protection and preservation of life of the terminally ill cancer patients. The current author is against the DNR order based on the patients’ right for sanctity of life, and the Islamic views of human life.

Keywords: Do Not Resuscitate, Do Not Resuscitate Order, DNR, Cancer, Position Statement, Proponents, Opponents.