Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Decision Making

In the absence of a recorded decision, there should be an initial presumption in favour of attempting CPR.

Anticipatory decisions about CPR are an important part of high-quality health care for people at risk of death or cardiorespiratory arrest.

They are best made in the context of other decisions and choices about care and treatment, whenever possible before an emergency necessitates a hurried decision.

Making them can be complex and should be undertaken by health professionals with appropriate competence.

Discussions about CPR with patients and those close to patients require sensitive and effective communication by healthcare team members with appropriate skills.

Decisions about CPR must be documented fully and carefully.

They should be reviewed with the frequency appropriate for each individual at that time, and when circumstances change.

Advice should be sought if there is uncertainty.

Potential Risks of CPR

• Fractured ribs
• Trauma to internal organs
• Undignified death
• prolonging suffering by bringing the person back to continued poor quality of life that they would not have chosen
• increasing suffering by bringing the person back to a worse state than before