Do Not Resuscitate(DNR) Requests
Do Not Resuscitate(DNR) Requests
By: Peter Breboneria II
Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders are the patient’s request directing the medical team to “withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event of cardiac arrest”. Under normal circumstances, only the patient can add this order to his/her medical chart. COVID-19 through various protocols allows the physician to unilaterally assign this order to critically ill patients due to “the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and exposure to fluids that could endanger the health and lives of the doctors, nurses, and others involved in the resuscitation. Concerns include not only losing healthcare personnel who could become ill but also the amount of PPE needed for each attempt.” Elivera (2020) stated that the ethics of the practice would depend upon the procurement of informed consent of the patient if incapacitated, immediate family member, relatives, or power of attorney. The advanced directive shall be obtained “as to unburden everybody of the so-called ‘guilt’ and from further distress of finger-pointing”. Unilateral DNR orders will only be problematic if there were no communication within the involved parties. Nevertheless, if there are no opportunities for communication, physicians shall place DNR orders in accordance with public health protocols “when the clinical facts offer no reasonable expectation of recovery from resuscitation (National Catholic Bioethics Center, 2021)”.
References
1. National Catholic Bioethics Center: Ethical Concerns with COVID-19 Triage Protocols – Corona Guidance: Religious Norms for Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2021, from http://web.colby.edu/coronaguidance/2020/04/03/catholic-bioethics-ethical-triage/
2.Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders. (n.d.). Retrieved May 12, 2021, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-not-resuscitate-dnr-orders-1298839
About the Author
Peter Dadis Breboneria II (Formerly Peter Reganit Breboneria II) is the founder of the International Center for Youth Development (ICYD) and the program author/ developer of the Philippines first internet-based Alternative Learning System(ALS) and Utak Henyo Program of the Department of Education featured by GMA News & Public Affairs, and ABS-CBN and MOA signed with Department of Education, Voice of the Youth Network, Junior Chamber International (JCI), and the Philippine Music and the Arts. He was the International Radio/TV format Host for Youth Program at Veritas Asia, a giant Catholic media network. He started as a local Youth Radio host at Gospel Broadcasting Network, an evangelical station, and trained by Far East Broadcasting Network (FEBC Legazpi Branch). He garnered model youth awards at Ateneo de Naga University, Bicol’s premier university in 2008. He is currently studying at the University of the Philippines-Open University. He studied Pastoral Management and Leadership at the Loyola School of Theology, a theological graduate school in Ateneo de Manila University. The Philippine Normal University-The National Center for Teacher Education waived his entrance exam and majorship exam. You may visit his website at www.peterbreboneria.com
