Question

A 74-year-old man with known ischaemic heart disease is brought to the emergency department after collapsing at home. He is pulseless and not breathing normally. CPR is started. There is no DNACPR form and no clear evidence of his prior wishes. His daughter arrives and insists that resuscitation be stopped because she believes he would not want it. What is the most appropriate course of action?

Accepted Answer

Continue CPR while you quickly review documentation and discuss with the team whether there are reversible causes

Answer

Stop CPR immediately because relatives can refuse treatment on behalf of the patient

Answer

Ask the daughter to sign a form refusing resuscitation and then stop CPR

Answer

Stop CPR and complete a DNACPR form retrospectively

Answer

Ignore the relative and continue CPR for a fixed 30 minutes regardless of clinical context

Practice question