DNR for frail elderly patient

[meha...@aol.com]

This question arose in the last few days. 93 year old female patient,
fully active until a fall and fractures in summer 05, since then
sometimes disoriented and deteriorating. Hospitalized a week ago
against the advice of primary care physician (a gerontologist who made
a house call and diagnosed normal shutting down of bodily functions,
part of the dying process) found to be slightly dehydrated and
malnourished, but no sign of infection, or other life-threatening
illness. Son asked if one should agree to the adding of a DNR order to
her chart. Without such an order, if her heart suddenly stops, a full
code will be called and they will do everything possible to restore a
heartbeat even if the odds of success are minimal, even if the patient
suffers injuries in the process and is unlikely to survive due to age
and frailty.
I discussed this question with Hagaon Rav Dovid Feinstein shlit'a on
Motzaei Shabbos. He was of the opinion that if someone is dying of a
clearly identified cause, organ failure, cancer etc. then there is no
obligation to resucitate since we know that the person is dying. But if
we have no clear diagnosis that would cause death or heart cessation
then we should at least attenpt to resuscitate, and therefore no DNR
should be signed.

[Michael Merdinger]

What happens in the case of an oriented patient? Can
an oriented patient request a DNR even if she's not
dying? Can an oriented patient who is dying demand a
full code?
--- meha...@aol.com wrote:

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