Lots of outrage about care home residents being made not for resuscitation. The facts around this are:
- All cardiac arrests have an underlying cause and resuscitation attempts will only be successful if this cause can be identified and reversed.
@mancunianmedic @drkathrynmannix

- The underlying cause of cardiac arrest in older, more frail people is rarely easily identifiable or reversible.
- Resuscitation, involving electric shocks to the heart and chest compressions, can be a brutal process. It’s not what most people would describe as “a good death”.

- The chances of most care home residents surviving a resuscitation attempt is very low.
- A large proportion of care home residents will already have “do not resuscitate” orders in place. This is entirely appropriate and will have been discussed with them and/or their family.

- “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) doesn’t mean don’t provide other care. You may still be admitted to hospital, have antibiotics and other life-prolonging treatments.
- It’s helpful to think about DNR as allowing the natural process of death to occur, peacefully and with dignity.