Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) doctors, or (2) other hospital staff, are able to impose a do not resuscitate notice when a patient and their family have said they do not agree to such an order.

A patient or their family or advocate should be consulted before a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) form is completed for them. The patient’s wishes and preferences should be considered but a doctor or senior responsible clinician does not need the consent of the patient or their family to complete a form if they think CPR is not in the patient’s best interests. CPR is a medical treatment and clinicians do not have to provide a treatment if they think it will be unsuccessful or would cause greater harm, even if the patient or their family do not agree with the decision.

The patient and their family should always be given the chance to understand what a DNACPR is, how the decision is made and why the doctor or medical staff in charge think CPR would not be a suitable treatment in their circumstance. If the patient, their family or advocate disagree with a DNACPR decision they can ask for a second opinion and a review.