What is the physician's written order that no attempt should be made to revive a patient if they suffer cardiac or respiratory arrest?

What is the physician's written order that no attempt should be made to revive a patient if they suffer cardiac or respiratory arrest?

• A. Living Will
• B. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
• C. Palliative Care
• D. Hospice

Answer: (B)

The key idea is end-of-life resuscitation preferences being translated into an actionable medical order. A Do Not Resuscitate is a physician’s written order that tells clinicians not to initiate CPR if the patient experiences cardiac or respiratory arrest. It’s an official, legally recognized directive that directly governs emergency actions, reflecting the patient’s or surrogate’s wishes to avoid invasive or potentially non-beneficial measures in a crisis. Living Will describes preferences for future care but isn’t always an immediate, enforceable order in the moment unless paired with a physician's directive. Palliative care focuses on relief of symptoms and quality of life, not specifically on whether to perform resuscitation. Hospice is about comfort-focused end-of-life care, not a standing order about resuscitation. So the Do Not Resuscitate order is the explicit, actionable instruction governing whether resuscitation should be attempted in arrest situations.

The key idea is end-of-life resuscitation preferences being translated into an actionable medical order. A Do Not Resuscitate is a physician’s written order that tells clinicians not to initiate CPR if the patient experiences cardiac or respiratory arrest. It’s an official, legally recognized directive that directly governs emergency actions, reflecting the patient’s or surrogate’s wishes to avoid invasive or potentially non-beneficial measures in a crisis.

Living Will describes preferences for future care but isn’t always an immediate, enforceable order in the moment unless paired with a physician's directive. Palliative care focuses on relief of symptoms and quality of life, not specifically on whether to perform resuscitation. Hospice is about comfort-focused end-of-life care, not a standing order about resuscitation.

So the Do Not Resuscitate order is the explicit, actionable instruction governing whether resuscitation should be attempted in arrest situations.