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Nancy S. Jecker, PhD; Lawrence J. Schneiderman, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1993;153(19):2195-2198.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

IN AN earlier article¹ we explored ethical decision making in the prehospital emergency setting with particular attention to emergency cardiac care (ECC). We argued in support of recent efforts to develop portable do-not-resuscitate (DNR) policies that allow patients' wishes to be honored outside the hospital setting, such as during interinstitutional transfer, in long-term care facilities, in the home, or elsewhere. We also proposed allowing emergency personnel to cease futile resuscitation in the field. We argued that unlike DNR orders, a judgment that resuscitation is futile should rest with qualified medical personnel and should reflect a professional consensus supported by sound empirical data.

In this article, we examine the most recent American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and ECC.² While we commend the new guidelines for acknowledging medical futility, we identify shortcomings in the definition of medical futility and suggest further revisions. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
Seattle, Wash; La Jolla, Calif

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