PMID: 8941294Nov 8, 1996Paper

The introduction and auditing of a formal do not resuscitate policy

The New Zealand Medical Journal
E M TaylorN S Peart

Abstract

To introduce, to assess the use of and the staff understanding of a do not resuscitate policy. A policy was developed with legal, medical, nursing and ethical input. Two distinct methods for a do not resuscitate order were allowed. The first method is where the patient requests a do not resuscitate order. The second is the medically indicated do not resuscitate order. The policy was trialed on two floors at Dunedin Hospital and an audit performed. Information was collected on patients receiving do not resuscitate orders. The notes of all patients dying on these floors were reviewed. A questionnaire was sent to clinical staff working on the trial floors which included questions on their understanding of issues related to do not resuscitate orders. 86% of deaths had a do not resuscitate order, 26% in accordance with the formal policy. Thirty percent of the time there was no record of a discussion of the do not resuscitate order with the patient or their family. Problems identified by staff included difficulty with raising and discussing these orders with patients and their families. Staff misunderstanding of consent and responsibility for treatment decisions for mentally competent and incompetent patients was common. There is a n...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Barbara J Messinger-Rapport, Hosam K Kamel
International Journal for Quality in Health Care : Journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care
Mohammed A MohammedShakir Hussain
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
U Skerritt, B Pitt
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved