End of life care: Discussion about whether to attempt CPR

1. 132. As with other treatments, decisions about whether CPR should be attempted must be based on the circumstances and wishes of the individual patient. This may involve discussions with the patient or with those close to them, or both, as well as members of the healthcare team. You must approach discussions sensitively and bear in mind that some patients, or those close to them, may have concerns that decisions not to attempt CPR might be influenced by poorly informed or unfounded assumptions about the impact of disability or advanced age on the patient’s quality of life.
2. 133. If a patient lacks capacity to make a decision about future CPR, the views of members of the healthcare team involved in their care may be valuable in assessing the likely clinical effectiveness of attempting CPR and whether successful CPR is likely to be of overall benefit. You should make every effort to discuss a patient’s CPR status with these healthcare professionals.