BACKGROUND: The authors review the literature related to patients who obtain a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order in preparation for a suicide attempt. OBJECTIVE: The authors review the ethical issues involved in making a decision to resuscitate or not in an attempted suicide with a DNR order. METHOD: The authors address the potential legal consequences of action or inaction and clinical issues to consider before a DNR order is issued. RESULTS: DNR laws do not take into account the situation of the mentally ill person framing a DNR order as a preparation for suicide. CONCLUSION: The article recommends screening for suicidal ideation before issuing DNR orders, having clear hospital policies regarding the honoring of DNR orders if suicide is attempted, and clarification of state DNR laws regarding suicide.
BACKGROUND: The authors review the literature related to patients who obtain a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order in preparation for a suicide attempt. OBJECTIVE: The authors review the ethical issues involved in making a decision to resuscitate or not in an attempted suicide with a DNR order. METHOD: The authors address the potential legal consequences of action or inaction and clinical issues to consider before a DNR order is issued. RESULTS: DNR laws do not take into account the situation of the mentally ill person framing a DNR order as a preparation for suicide. CONCLUSION: The article recommends screening for suicidal ideation before issuing DNR orders, having clear hospital policies regarding the honoring of DNR orders if suicide is attempted, and clarification of state DNR laws regarding suicide.
Authors: Leah Quinlivan; Rebecca Nowland; Sarah Steeg; Jayne Cooper; Declan Meehan; Joseph Godfrey; Duncan Robertson; Damien Longson; John Potokar; Rosie Davies; Neil Allen; Richard Huxtable; Kevin Mackway-Jones; Keith Hawton; David Gunnell; Nav Kapur Journal: BJPsych Open Date: 2019-06-13
Authors: Rebecca Nowland; Sarah Steeg; Leah M Quinlivan; Jayne Cooper; Richard Huxtable; Keith Hawton; David Gunnell; Neil Allen; Kevin Mackway-Jones; Navneet Kapur Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-03-13 Impact factor: 2.692