DNR Order and Elderly

Authors : Burcu ÇUVALCI, Sevilay HİNTİSTAN

Pages : 32-40

Doi:10.19127/mbsjohs.338904

View : 16 | Download : 6

Publication Date : 2017-12-28

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a choice that must be made between the return of life and the end of life. It is still a matter of controversy when and where cardiopulmonary resuscitation will be implemented, and this discussion has brought the `Do Not Resuscitate` order to the agenda. For this reason, `Resuscitation` and `Do Not Resuscitate` order lead to many ethical and legal dilemmas. The `Do Not Resuscitate` order, which is a difficult decision to make, becomes more difficult in the old age when ethical problems are frequent. Because of chronic diseases and deterioration in cognitive functions, the ability to make decisions about health practices of elderly individuals who are becoming increasingly dependent in terms of physical and psychosocial dimensions are also diminishing. In addition, lack of awareness, sensory/emotional barriers and communication deficits prevent elderly people from participating in health care decisions; it makes difficult to determine care target among the elderly and health professionals. Especially to be adequate to the needs of nursing care for the elderly, the problems related to `Do Not Resuscitate` instruction which is an important part of end-of-life maintenance need to be solved. For this purpose, the `Do Not Resuscitate` order should be handled by health professionals and lawyers in a versatile manner and necessary legal arrangements should be made.
Keywords : Elderly, Nursing, Do Not Resuscitate, DNR Order