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The “do-not-resuscitate” order in palliative surgery: Ethical issues and a review on policy in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 January 2015

Wing Lok Chan
Wing Lok Chan*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Chan Wing Lok, Department of Clinical Oncology, 1/F Professorial Block, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. E-Mail: lokwingin@hotmail.com
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Abstract

A do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, or “advance directive,” is commonly seen in the cases of palliative patients who express a wish to withhold specific resuscitative therapies in the event of a cardiac arrest. With recent technological advances, there are increasing numbers of palliative patients who undergo surgical interventions to treat their symptoms and discomfort. The decision to suspend DNR orders for palliative surgery is always a matter for debate. The present article describes a case and the ethical issues involved and gives some practical suggestions for those facing similar problems. We also review the latest DNR policy in Hong Kong.

Keywords

Cardiopulmonary resuscitationPalliative careSurgeryAnesthesiologyDo not resuscitateEthics
Type
Essay/Personal Reflections
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 13 , Issue 5 , October 2015 , pp. 1489 - 1493
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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