"Do Not Resuscitate" orders in Queensland; Examining the need to obtain consent

View/ Open
Author(s)
Hewitt, Jayne
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2011
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
While advances in the understanding and treatment of many medical conditions have extended the lives of many patients, there may still come a time when it is appropriate to consider limiting the provision of certain lifesaving procedures, such as cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. In circumstances where it has been determined that such treatment would be futile, health care providers are able to institute a not for resuscitation order that communicates this decision to allmembers of the health care team. Currently, the law in Queensland requires that for those patients lacking capacity, consent should be obtained prior to ...
View more >While advances in the understanding and treatment of many medical conditions have extended the lives of many patients, there may still come a time when it is appropriate to consider limiting the provision of certain lifesaving procedures, such as cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. In circumstances where it has been determined that such treatment would be futile, health care providers are able to institute a not for resuscitation order that communicates this decision to allmembers of the health care team. Currently, the law in Queensland requires that for those patients lacking capacity, consent should be obtained prior to insituting such an order. This article examines the content of this law, and explores the ethical principles that underpin the need to obtain consent; ultimately concluding that it does not support autonomous decision making.
View less >
View more >While advances in the understanding and treatment of many medical conditions have extended the lives of many patients, there may still come a time when it is appropriate to consider limiting the provision of certain lifesaving procedures, such as cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. In circumstances where it has been determined that such treatment would be futile, health care providers are able to institute a not for resuscitation order that communicates this decision to allmembers of the health care team. Currently, the law in Queensland requires that for those patients lacking capacity, consent should be obtained prior to insituting such an order. This article examines the content of this law, and explores the ethical principles that underpin the need to obtain consent; ultimately concluding that it does not support autonomous decision making.
View less >
Journal Title
Queensland Lawyer
Volume
31
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2011 Thomson Reuters. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Law not elsewhere classified
Law