Organization:Mercy
Hospital and Medical Center
Source: CSEP
Library
Date Approved:
1979
Other Version(s) in our Codes
of Ethics Online Collection:None
of Ethics Online Collection:None
Disclaimer: Please note the codes in our collection might not necessarily
be the most recent versions. Please contact the individual organizations
or their websites to verify if a more recent or updated code of ethics
is available. CSEP does not hold copyright on any of the codes of ethics
in our collection. Any permission to use the codes must be sought from
the individual organizations directly.
Guidelines for Application of CPR in Patients with Terminal Illness
Mercy
Hospital and Medical Center
Approved 1979
Guidelines
for Application of CPR in Patients with Terminal Illness
- 1. Physician members of Medical and Scientific Staff Faculty use attached excerpt (Appendix 1) from Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 8th Edition (edited by Thorn, Adams, Braunwald, Isselbacher and Petersdorf, published by McGrawHill, 1977) as a general conceptual and philosophical guide in caring for patients with terminal illness and decision for CPR.
- 2. Physician members of Medical and Scientific Staff Faculty (as it is required) be thoroughly knowledgeable of the natural progress of the disease and prognosis of the patient's illness prior to making decision pertinent to CPR. When necessary, the physician should obtain appropriate consultation from other member(s) of the medical staff.
- 3. The physician will discuss with the patient with terminal illness and appropriate members of the patient's family or legal guardian the nature of the illness and future medical and social plans for the patient. The discussion might be limited to appropriate members of the patients family in the best judgment of the physician it might lead to the intensification of the patients suffering and loss of all hope for the patient.
- 4. If the patient with terminal illness is unconscious, the physician will discuss the patients condition with appropriate members of the patients family.
- 5. Then the physician should make the final decision for CPR and inform the appropriate members of the family or the legal guardian and members of the health care team.
- 6. The physician will indicate in the patients chart in the section of progress notes that he/she has gone through the above processes and express his final decision regarding CPR in the progress notes section of the patient's chart.
- 7. Any possible conflict between physician and patient or the patient's responsible family member and/or legal guardian should be resolved in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Medical and Scientific Staff-Faculty.
- 8. Appropriate care of the patient will be maintained and the attending physician will continue to monitor and evaluate the patient's condition for the possible eventuality of a change of orders regarding use or non-use of CPR.
