Change “DNR” to “AND”

Medicines

3 Feb 2015

Using more positive terminology rather than “Do Not Resuscitate” may help families have open discussions about death, an emergency physicians says. Writing in a letter to the MJA Dr Diana Egerton-Warburton from Monash Health in Melbourne said “allow natural death” or “AND” could be  an alternative to the negative phrase “DNR”. While there were some concerns the use of AND could cause confusion the benefits outweighed the negatives, she said.

“Positive language facilitates discussion when treatment is likely to be futile but death is not expected.

“We should be having a conversation about allowing natural death rather than about withholding largely ineffective and possibly harmful treatment,” she wrote.

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