What is a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order?

A Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order is an advance directive specifically designed to communicate an individual's wish to forgo resuscitation efforts in the event of a cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. It indicates that if the person’s heart stops or they stop breathing, healthcare providers should not initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other life-saving measures aimed at reviving them. This order is typically established by a patient, often in consultation with their healthcare provider, and is intended to honor the patient's preferences regarding end-of-life care.

In this context, the other options refer to different concepts in medical care. For instance, the notion of a legal document for organ donation pertains to the intentions of individuals to donate their organs posthumously, which is distinctly separate from a DNR order. Medication directives usually focus on specific prescriptions or treatment plans, while consent forms for surgery relate to permissions granted by patients before undergoing surgical procedures. These concepts serve different purposes in healthcare and are not interchangeable with the guidelines expressed by a DNR order.