Open AccessDo not resuscitate: Lawful or unlawful?
Author(s) -
Alec Samuels
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medicine, science and the law/medicine, science and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2042-1818
pISSN - 0025-8024
DOI - 10.1177/00258024211032799
Subject(s) - presumption , do not resuscitate , discretion , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , autonomy , law , meaning (existential) , do not resuscitate order , business , political science , medicine , psychology , resuscitation , medical emergency , emergency medicine , psychotherapist
When is it lawful not to resuscitate and when is it unlawful? What is the meaning of mental capacity on the part of the patient and what is meant by patient autonomy? What is the extent of clinical discretion in decisions not to resuscitate? Does the presumption in favour of life still obtain? What about the risks in cardiopulmonary resuscitation? What have the judges decided about decisions not to resuscitate, and what is the contemporary role of the doctor in this area? Is there any need for change or reform?