DNR Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

DNR - Research Paper Example If the patient is not in a hospital, the DNR orders normally state that the medical practitioners in charge of the patient should not take him or her to a hospital for emergency resuscitation. In many cases when the patient is too sick to request for a DNR order, the closest family members or friends can order for one on his behalf (Piers, Benoit and Schrauwen, 2011). Even though all adult patients have the right to request for a DNR Order, its usage is quite a controversial issue in the medical field. The medical profession is one that strives to uphold the ethical principles of human dignity, compassion, non-malfeasance and social justice. Every individual has a right to accept or refuse emergency resuscitation. However, it is also the duty of the medical practitioner to save the lives of the patients he is attending to (Moss, 2003). This is where the ethical and legal implications of DNR come in. Whereas it is within the doctors’ prerogative to save the lives of his patients, he must also respect their wishes if they do not want to be saved. DNR raises the legal and ethical concern that giving consent to the order may lead to a loss of life that may otherwise have been saved (Crozier, Santoli and Outin, 2011). The DNR order should be honored if the patient who fully understands his medical situation consents to it. There are provisions in law that give the patient the right to chose the form of treatment that he deems best. It is the duty of the care giver to consider the needs and wants of his patients. Therefore if the patient consents to or gives DNR orders and signs the DNR form, the care givers should employ other treatment options to try and save his life. Sometime the options available are not efficient enough and the result is normally catastrophic (Ani, 2005). The ethical question still remains on whether the care givers should not do everything possible to save