A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a medical order written by a doctor that instructs healthcare providers to not perform CPR on a patient in the event that their heart or breathing stops. Before beginning hospice, a patient should discuss whether or not they want a DNR order, which is an important step when considering end-of-life planning.
If a patient does not want any emergency life-saving procedures, they should sign a DNR. CPR can be difficult for patients who are not healthy as it can be hard for the body to withstand due to the force with which CPR may need to be administered. While CPR can save lives, it can also cause cracked or broken ribs, contusions to the lungs that can leave the patient on a ventilator, or, if CPR is administered too late or incorrectly, it can leave a patient brain-damaged or dead. A patient should always discuss with their family the kinds of extraordinary measures they want to be taken, long before they actually have to so that their family is not left to make the decision when the time comes.