DNR - Do not Resuscitate

[Tommy999]

Background:
My mother passed away several years ago from a dissected aorta, similar to what actor John Ritter died of in case you wanted to Google it. I lived out-of-state and didn’t know all the details except that she passed away the next day from heart failure before I arrived there for the funeral. She was also cremated and her ashes were buried in the family plot at the local cemetery.

Nobody at the time that she died told me she was kept alive for a number of hours by life support or that she had a DNR in place that my father honored when it was determined she was brain dead and only able to be kept alive by artificial means.

My father loved my mother dearly but honored her DNR wish because they both had previously agreed to have a DNR on file and made that decision when they were both healthy and of a sound mind. They just didn’t want to leave such an agonizing decision to their kids as to whether to potentially pull their plug some day, I was recently told when I was on vacation visiting my siblings.

Question:
What does your faith teach about DNR?

In Catholicism, is DNR in such cases as my mother allowed or is it considered a sin? Just curious how different traditions view DNR and whether they treat it like assisted suicide or whether it falls into an “acceptable” category. Thanks.

Note: My father also had a DNR but he died peacefully in his sleep a number of years later at age 91. Your thoughts and insights are appreciated, especially the Catholic perspective.

 

[NeuroTypical]

Mormon here. Here’s our policy:

Prolonging Life
When severe illness strikes, members should exercise faith in the Lord and seek competent medical assistance. However, when dying becomes inevitable, it should be seen as a blessing and a purposeful part of eternal existence. Members should not feel obligated to extend mortal life by means that are unreasonable. These judgments are best made by family members after receiving wise and competent medical advice and seeking divine guidance through fasting and prayer.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

A person may forgo extraordinary or disproportionate means of preserving life.
Disproportionate means are those that in the patient’s judgment do not offer a reasonable hope of benefit or entail an excessive burden, or impose excessive expense on the family or the community.

usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/health-care/upload/Ethical-Religious-Directives-Catholic-Health-Care-Services-fifth-edition-2009.pdf

 

[Beryllos]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches the following (but the bold emphasis is mine):
2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of “over-zealous” treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one’s inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.

 

[pianistclare]

Yes. May your beloved mother rest in eternal peace.

 

[susanlo]

I do not know of any religions that have any specific rules against a DNR. I worked as a hospice nurse for 10 years and never encountered any issues with any of the major religions.

A DNR - do not resuscitate - is considered ‘passive euthanasia.’ Passive euthanasia means withholding a medical procedure or medicine that could extend the life of someone who has a terminal or life-limiting condition. This is different from ‘active euthanasia’ which is administering a medicine for the intent of ending a terminal patient’s life. Active euthanasia is considered unethical by most religions.

Completing an advance directive and sharing one’s wishes for their care in the event of a medical emergency can be so helpful for family members. Whether one chooses to have every possible intervention - or to not receive any invasive procedures if the prognosis is poor - it is important to write this down. These documents can guide all of the medical decisions that would need to be made. The family members will have to live with these decisions and the choices they did and didn’t make for the rest of their lives. Having the decision already made by their family members relieves this burden from them.

 

[Tommy999]

Yes. May your beloved mother rest in eternal peace.

Thanks, Clare, and the rest of you who helped clarify the situation for me. It makes me feel a little more at peace about it now.

 

[anonymous_in_fl]

There is no sin in having a DNR.

 

[Tommy999]

I do not know of any religions that have any specific rules against a DNR. I worked as a hospice nurse for 10 years and never encountered any issues with any of the major religions.

A DNR - do not resuscitate - is considered ‘passive euthanasia.’ Passive euthanasia means withholding a medical procedure or medicine that could extend the life of someone who has a terminal or life-limiting condition. This is different from ‘active euthanasia’ which is administering a medicine for the intent of ending a terminal patient’s life. Active euthanasia is considered unethical by most religions.

Completing an advance directive and sharing one’s wishes for their care in the event of a medical emergency can be so helpful for family members. Whether one chooses to have every possible intervention - or to not receive any invasive procedures if the prognosis is poor - it is important to write this down. These documents can guide all of the medical decisions that would need to be made. The family members will have to live with these decisions and the choices they did and didn’t make for the rest of their lives. Having the decision already made by their family members relieves this burden from them.

Thanks, Susanlo. That is kind of what I was thinking was the case. but in the back of my mind I remember a lot of turmoil with the Terri Schiavo case about 15 years ago and so I wanted to see if I could get a clarification to be certain.

 

[sirach2v4]

Thanks, Susanlo. That is kind of what I was thinking was the case. but in the back of my mind I remember a lot of turmoil with the Terri Schiavo case about 15 years ago and so I wanted to see if I could get a clarification to be certain.

Whoa. There is a big distinction to be made in that case. Your mother’s case sounds like others have already described. The Schiavo case involved withholding of water and nourishment, to hasten the death of a woman. That case was strongly opposed by Catholic leaders and is not the acceptable advice of the Catholic Church.

When Pope St. John Paul II died some 8 years ago, or thereabouts, he went to the Rome hospitals and doctors who could offer him no more treatment – nothing that would prevent or delay his death – so he returned to his residence at the Vatican and died a couple days later. His was a very visible example of accepting the inevitable.

We in wealthy countries enjoy for more access to advanced medical care. In poor countries or regions, people don’t have the luxury of such care and sick people can’t even get to the care they need. I think it’s harder to draw a line in the sand of what can be done for patients who are deathly sick.

When my mother passed away. the doctors wouldn’t touch her, threatening that anything invasive would hasten her death – probably quoting from and standing firmly on Medicare (government) guidelines about what treatment could even be offered to her. She had three fatal illnesses; it was simply a contest to see which one would bring about her end. I had these “doors” slammed in my face, it wasn’t even up to me to decide what care she should receive. She had a good day, received Eucharist, and later in the day passed quickly and silently. For me, that was the most reassuring of her last day.

 

[Tommy999]

Whoa. There is a big distinction to be made in that case. Your mother’s case sounds like others have already described. The Schiavo case involved withholding of water and nourishment, to hasten the death of a woman. That case was strongly opposed by Catholic leaders and is not the acceptable advice of the Catholic Church.

When Pope St. John Paul II died some 8 years ago, or thereabouts, he went to the Rome hospitals and doctors who could offer him no more treatment – nothing that would prevent or delay his death – so he returned to his residence at the Vatican and died a couple days later. His was a very visible example of accepting the inevitable.

We in wealthy countries enjoy for more access to advanced medical care. In poor countries or regions, people don’t have the luxury of such care and sick people can’t even get to the care they need. I think it’s harder to draw a line in the sand of what can be done for patients who are deathly sick.

When my mother passed away. the doctors wouldn’t touch her, threatening that anything invasive would hasten her death – probably quoting from and standing firmly on Medicare (government) guidelines about what treatment could even be offered to her. She had three fatal illnesses; it was simply a contest to see which one would bring about her end. I had these “doors” slammed in my face, it wasn’t even up to me to decide what care she should receive. She had a good day, received Eucharist, and later in the day passed quickly and silently. For me, that was the most reassuring of her last day.

Thanks for clarifying the differences in the two cases, sirach2v4. I think I more fully understand why they are very different now. Thanks again to everyone who responded on this topic. .

 

[steido01]

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod’s views can be found here. They are compatible with the Catholic understanding.

 

[Padres1969]

The Episcopal Church teaches that it is justified to stop medical treatment, including artificial nutrition and hydration, when that treatment brings significantly more burdens than benefits to a person.

The ECUSA’s full resolution on the issue can be found here.

 

[CarolNoel]

Yes. May your beloved mother rest in eternal peace.

I have said a prayer for her and your family too.

 

[Nita]

Aren’t DNR and withholding medical treatment 2 different things?

I think of a DNR as applying to one has “died” - no heartbeat, no breathing…
I think of withholding medical treatment as applying to a person who is alive.
To me the state of the person (alive or dead) makes a big difference in the morality of the act. I don’t know if there is anything immoral in allowing a dead person to remain dead!

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Aren’t DNR and withholding medical treatment 2 different things?

I think of a DNR as applying to one has “died” - no heartbeat, no breathing…
I think of withholding medical treatment as applying to a person who is alive.

DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) is in cardiac or respiratory failure so one would not do CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) nor mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The heart can still be beating but in dysrhythmia (way out of the normal rhythm). The person can still be alive.

Withholding treatment can include resuscitation but also nutrition and hydration, aggressive therapies and procedures, even antibiotics, blood draws and further diagnostic stuff for a person who is alive.

And DNR is actually a doctor’s order so even though someone might have an advance directive (Living Will or durable power of attorney) stating no resuscitation or aggressive medical treatments, unless the doctor writes the order it will still be done.

 

[Nita]

DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) is in cardiac or respiratory failure so one would not do CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) nor mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The heart can still be beating but in dysrhythmia (way out of the normal rhythm). The person can still be alive.

Withholding treatment can include resuscitation but also nutrition and hydration, aggressive therapies and procedures, even antibiotics, blood draws and further diagnostic stuff for a person who is alive.

And DNR is actually a doctor’s order so even though someone might have an advance directive (Living Will or durable power of attorney) stating no resuscitation or aggressive medical treatments, unless the doctor writes the order it will still be done.

Thank you. I didn’t realize CPR was ever used when the heart was still beating.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

And DNR is actually a doctor’s order so even though someone might have an advance directive (Living Will or durable power of attorney) stating no resuscitation or aggressive medical treatments, unless the doctor writes the order it will still be done.

Isn’t resuscitation also the default procedure when 911 / emergency is called? That is not always under doctor’s orders.

More states in the US are using the POLST (Physican’s Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) so that if emergency services are called and resuscitation is NOT wanted, the orders are there and visible.

It’s hard to know what to do in an unforeseen situation, but if a DNR is absolutely wanted, I’m grateful there are ways to communicate that officially. It is no sin to say, ‘Let me die.’

 

[arthra]

“What does your faith teach about DNR?”

I don’t think there is a specific ruling of a Baha’i view on DNR as such.

Suicide is strongly forbidden in the Baha’i Faith however even in these cases the Baha’i is entitled to Baha’i burial. Bahá’ís do not adopt a condemnatory attitude toward those who commit suicide.

In response to an early Bahá’í who committed suicide, the Bahá’í writings stated:

“*He will be immersed in the ocean of pardon and forgiveness and will become the recipient of bounty and favour.” *

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Isn’t resuscitation also the default procedure when 911 / emergency is called? That is not always under doctor’s orders.

More states in the US are using the POLST (Physican’s Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) so that if emergency services are called and resuscitation is NOT wanted, the orders are there and visible.

It’s hard to know what to do in an unforeseen situation, but if a DNR is absolutely wanted, I’m grateful there are ways to communicate that officially. It is no sin to say, ‘Let me die.’

Yes, resuscitation is the default procedure for 911. I have heard about POLST but never seen it used.