has made a valid and applicable advance decision refusing CPR or a Lasting Power or Attorney with the power to make decisions about CPR refuses it, this legally binding refusal must be respected. Where a patient lacks capacity and has not made a valid Advance Decision to Refuse CPR or there is no Lasting Power of Attorney authorizing an Attorney to make the decision, DNACPR decisions about that patient must be made in their best interests. At that stage, any DNACPR decision must be considered. A DNACPR decision is clinical advice. It is not legally binding (unlike a valid and applicable Advance Decision by the patient to refuse CPR or a decision by a validly appointed Lasting Power of Attorney who is able to make decisions about CPR). A DNACPR decision that has been made and recorded appropriately in accordance with this policy should usually be followed in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest. However, a DNACPR decision does not override clinical judgment in the unlikely event of a reversible cause of the respiratory or cardiac arrest that does not match the patient’s circumstances envisaged at the time of making the DNACPR decision. Where a DNACPR decision has not been recorded in the Medical records or there are doubts over its continued application and time does not allow an assessment of the best interests, CPR should be patient’s undertaken in order to save life. In such cases this must be recorded via DATIX and line manager informed or out of manager as hour’s appropriate. Reviewing DNACPR decisions This decision will be regarded as unless: ‘indefinite’ A definite review date is specified There are improvements in the condition person’s Their expressed wishes change where a 1b & 1c decision is concerned If a review date is specified then the health care staff with overall responsibility must contact all relevant on-going care givers to inform them of the need for a review. This contact must initially be by phone/in person and then followed up with a discharge letter to ensure that the details of the review are clear to all concerned. Informal reviews can take place at any time if they are felt appropriate reasons for the review, or refusal to do so, should be clearly documented, along with the outcome of any review. Suspension of a DNACPR Decision In some circumstances there are reversible causes of a cardio- respiratory arrest. These are either pre-planned or acute. Uncommonly, some patients for whom a DNACPR decision has
has made a valid and applicable advance decision refusing CPR or a Lasting Power or Attorney with the power to make decisions about CPR refuses it, this legally binding refusal must be respected. Where a patient lacks capacity and has not made a valid Advance Decision to Refuse CPR or there is no Lasting Power of Attorney authorizing an Attorney to make the decision, DNACPR decisions about that patient must be made in their best interests. At that stage, any DNACPR decision must be considered. A DNACPR decision is clinical advice. It is not legally binding (unlike a valid and applicable Advance Decision by the patient to refuse CPR or a decision by a validly appointed Lasting Power of Attorney who is able to make decisions about CPR). A DNACPR decision that has been made and recorded appropriately in accordance with this policy should usually be followed in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest. However, a DNACPR decision does not override clinical judgment in the unlikely event of a reversible cause of the patient’s respiratory or cardiac arrest that does not match the circumstances envisaged at the time of making the DNACPR decision. Where a DNACPR decision has not been recorded in the Medical records or there are doubts over its continued application and time does not allow an assessment of the patient’s best interests, CPR should be undertaken in order to save life. In such cases this must be recorded via DATIX and line manager informed or out of hour’s manager as appropriate. Reviewing DNACPR decisions This decision will be regarded as ‘indefinite’ unless: A definite review date is specified There are improvements in the person’s condition Their expressed wishes change where a 1b & 1c decision is concerned If a review date is specified then the health care staff with overall responsibility must contact all relevant on-going care givers to inform them of the need for a review. This contact must initially be by phone/in person and then followed up with a discharge letter to ensure that the details of the review are clear to all concerned. Informal reviews can take place at any time if they are felt appropriate reasons for the review, or refusal to do so, should be clearly documented, along with the outcome of any review. Suspension of a DNACPR Decision In some circumstances there are reversible causes of a cardio- respiratory arrest. These are either pre-planned or acute. Uncommonly, some patients for whom a DNACPR decision has