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Simple English definitions for legal terms
do-not-resuscitate order
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A quick definition of do-not-resuscitate order:
A do-not-resuscitate order, also known as a DNR order, is a document that a person can sign to say that if their heart stops or they stop breathing while in a hospital or nursing home, they do not want healthcare professionals to try to bring them back to life. This is usually done by people who are very sick and do not want to be kept alive by machines or other medical treatments. There is also an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order, which is for people who have been diagnosed with a terminal condition and do not want certain life-sustaining treatments when they are not in a hospital or similar facility.
A more thorough explanation:
A do-not-resuscitate order is a legal document that a person can sign to indicate that they do not want healthcare professionals to attempt to restore their heartbeat or breathing if they stop functioning while in a hospital, nursing home, or similar facility. This document is also known as a DNR order.
For example, if a person has a terminal illness and does not want to be resuscitated if their heart stops beating, they can sign a DNR order. This means that healthcare professionals will not perform CPR or use other life-sustaining treatments to try to revive them.
Another type of DNR order is an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order (OOH-DNR order). This is a document that a person with a terminal condition can sign to indicate that they do not want to be resuscitated if their heart stops beating outside of a hospital or similar facility.
For instance, if a person with a terminal illness is receiving hospice care at home and does not want to be resuscitated if their heart stops beating, they can sign an OOH-DNR order. This means that emergency medical services (EMS) will not attempt to revive them if they are called to the person's home.
Overall, a DNR order is a legal document that allows a person to make their end-of-life wishes known and ensures that healthcare professionals and EMS providers respect those wishes.