Question

A 79-year-old woman with metastatic lung cancer, advanced frailty and repeated admissions for pneumonia has a DNACPR form completed after multidisciplinary discussion. She now lacks capacity. Her son demands that you “do everything including CPR” if she arrests. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Explain that DNACPR decisions are clinical and cannot be overturned by relatives, but that all appropriate supportive treatment will continue

Answer

Cancel the DNACPR and agree to full resuscitation to respect his wishes

Answer

Ask the son to sign a form refusing DNACPR

Answer

Offer to perform CPR only if he is present

Answer

Ignore the DNACPR decision and reassess only if she deteriorates

Practice question