Legal Definitions - do-not-resuscitate order

A do-not-resuscitate order is a legal document that a person can sign to indicate that they do not want healthcare professionals to attempt to restore their heartbeat or breathing if they stop functioning while in a hospital, nursing home, or similar facility. This document is also known as a DNR order.

For example, if a person has a terminal illness and does not want to be resuscitated if their heart stops beating, they can sign a DNR order. This means that healthcare professionals will not perform CPR or use other life-sustaining treatments to try to revive them.

Another type of DNR order is an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order (OOH-DNR order). This is a document that a person with a terminal condition can sign to indicate that they do not want to be resuscitated if their heart stops beating outside of a hospital or similar facility.

For instance, if a person with a terminal illness is receiving hospice care at home and does not want to be resuscitated if their heart stops beating, they can sign an OOH-DNR order. This means that emergency medical services (EMS) will not attempt to revive them if they are called to the person's home.

Overall, a DNR order is a legal document that allows a person to make their end-of-life wishes known and ensures that healthcare professionals and EMS providers respect those wishes.