Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Communication Failures in Hospital End-of-Life Care (BBC News / RCP)

Summary

The latest Royal College of Physicians (RCP) audit has estimated that one in five families may not be consulted when hospital staff decide not to revive their relatives and issue “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) orders.

“Guidelines issued by the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing say that DNR orders should be issued only after discussion with patients or their family”.

This audit is the first RCP End of Life Care Audit to be conducted following the withdrawal of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP). It was funded by NHS England and Marie Curie, and commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP).

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Reference

‘Unacceptable’ that families ‘not told of resuscitation plans’. London: BBC Health News, May 2^nd 2016.

See also:

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Reference

New RCP End of Life Care Audit shows steady progress in care of dying people. [March Press Release, Re-Launched / Re-Cycled for May Bank Holiday]. London: Royal College of Physicians, March 30^th 2016.

This relates to:

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Reference

End of Life Care Audit – Dying in Hospital: National report for England 2016. London: Royal College of Physicians, March 29^th 2016.