The Ethics of Advanced Directives and DNR Orders
2023-04-19 06:49:32By Admin
Advanced directives are legal documents that outline a persons wishes regarding medical care in the event that they become incapacitated. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders are a particular type of advanced directive in which a patient specifically requests not to be resuscitated if their heart stops or if they are unable to breath on their own. This raises an ethical dilemma, both for the patient, who must consider if they are willing to let themselves die, and for the medical professional, who must decide whether to follow or disregard the order.
Patients must consider a number of ethical issues when determining if they want to include a DNR order in their advanced directive. For instance, they must decide if they are comfortable with the idea of taking away the option of being revived by medical personnel. They must also ask themselves if they are prepared to accept death as the outcome of such an order. Depending on their personal values and beliefs, such choices may be difficult to make.
Medical personnel also face ethical dilemmas when dealing with DNR orders. If a person has a DNR order, healthcare providers are ethically bound to follow it unless there are extenuating circumstances that would render it invalid. This means that they must respect the wishes of the patient, even if it means potentially letting them die. At the same time, it is their duty to do everything in their power to save a patients life, so not intervening to provide resuscitation can feel like going against their professional obligation.
From a legal standpoint, there are also certain considerations that come into play. Depending on the jurisdiction, medical personnel may be legally obligated to follow a valid DNR order, even if it goes against their ethical judgment. In other cases, they may not be legally required to follow a DNR order, but they may still be held liable if they do not. As such, medical personnel must be aware of both ethical and legal obligations related to DNR orders.
In conclusion, advanced directives and DNR orders can pose ethical and legal dilemmas for both patients and medical professionals. Patients must consider their morals and beliefs in deciding if and how to include DNR orders in their advanced directives, while medical personnel must balance their ethical and legal obligations when dealing with such orders. Ultimately, it is up to both parties to make the best decisions possible in such challenging situations.