Do not resuscitate order: A request not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) done if the heart stops or breathing ceases.
One can use an advance directive form to make this request or one can tell the doctor to put a DNR order in the medical record. DNR orders are accepted by doctors and hospitals in most jurisdictions, including all states in the U.S.
Information about how to implement advance directives and do not resuscitate orders.
This information is approved and/or reviewed by U-M Health System providers but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical treatment.
When should CPR be administered? When can CPR be withheld? When is CPR "futile"? When is CPR not of benefit? How should the patient's quality of life be considered?
Do not resuscitate orders communicate a patient's decision to not have medical personnel perform CPR in case of a medical emergency.
Almost everyone has heard of a do not resuscitate (DNR) order; it's the order for healthcare providers not to perform CPR on a victim of cardiac arrest.