Nurses make decisions on resuscitation: Dignity in Dying comment (26 October 2007)

26th October 2007

Nurses make decisions on resuscitation: Dignity in Dying comment

Commenting on the new guidelines on resuscitation issued by the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing and the Resuscitation Council, Nick Moore, Chairman of Dignity in Dying- the leading UK organisation campaigning for greater patient choice at the end of life- said:

“If a GP or consultant is not available, it is common-sense that an experienced nurse should be allowed to make decisions about whether or not to attempt resuscitation. Unnecessarily resuscitating a patient in the last weeks of their life can often prolong suffering.

“We support a patient-centred approach to end of life care. Therefore, we fully endorse these guidelines; real patient choice will make what is a very difficult time for individuals and their family members a much less distressing experience. We do appreciate that these decisions are difficult for healthcare professionals. Consequently we encourage people to complete an advance decision, which notifies medical professionals of a patient’s wishes should they become mentally incapacitated. Under the Mental Capacity Act, advance decisions are now statutory.

-Ends-

Notes to editor

About Dignity in Dying
Dignity in Dying is the leading organisation in the UK that advocates assisted dying for terminally ill patients.
The organisation is also the country’s leading provider in information on end-of-life issues.
Dignity in Dying has over 100,000 supporters and receives its funding entirely from donations from the public.
Opinion polls consistently show that at least 80% of the UK population support a change in the law on assisted dying.
An interview with Ashley Riley is available to download at <https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/aboutus/ >.

Media contacts
For all media enquiries, please contact Jessica Tomlin on 020 7479 7736 or 07725 433025 or on Jessica.Tomlin@dignityindying.org.uk