Counterpoint+Is+It+Ethical+To+Order+“Do+Not+Resuscitate”+Without+Patient+Consent?

Constantine A. Manthous, MD, FCCP // Chest. // 2007;132(3):751-754. doi:10.1378/chest.07-0912 This article shines a light on the gray areas of do not resuscitate orders. Simply agreeing with a doctor that CPR may not be the most appropriate option can land patients in a world of trouble pertaining to proper end of life care. Interestingly enough the article argues that if a doctor is not “omniscient”, which no doctor is, then they cannot make the final decision on resuscitation based on what they believe is appropriate in the first place when discussed with the patient. Doctors all differ in their level of knowledge and expertise when it comes to their practice. This prompts the question, “ Could a specific doctor change the outcome of a patients life that has a DNR order?” Dr. Manthous also touches the point that since doctors are imperfect beings they can approach a DNR situation or DNR discussion with a patient in a way that could be shifted by a simple mood change. Also, that in a federal democracy a DNR and its effectiveness can vary from state to state due to specific laws which ultimately raise the question of how ethical that can be considering one life and the way it end shouldn’t matter more than another and where you live can play a factor in how you may die. This article gave me an insight that the others didn’t. It went a little deeper and past the legalities and into a more spiritual point of view.