Resuscitation of the terminally ill

The CMA believes that there are conditions of ill health and inevitable death for which a “no resuscitation” order, signed by the attending physician, is appropriate and ethically acceptable. The association encourages physicians who are faced with the decision of writing a “no resuscitation” or “do not resuscitate” order to consider the clinical criteria and procedural guidelines in the Joint Statement on Terminal Illness. This protocol is intended as a basic, national guideline for those involved in the care of the terminally ill. Individual institutions may wish to develop their own directives as an adjunct to the national statement.