Which document addresses a patient's wishes about resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest?

Which document addresses a patient's wishes about resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest?

• A. Advanced directive
• B. Do not resuscitate (DNR) order
• C. Organ donor card
• D. Euthanasia

Answer: (B)

The main idea is documenting a patient’s wishes for how to be treated if their heart stops. The Do Not Resuscitate order is the specific medical order that directly tells clinicians not to perform CPR or other life‑sustaining measures if cardiac arrest occurs. It’s an actionable instruction placed in the patient’s chart that all care providers (emergency, hospital, and outpatient teams) must follow, and it can be updated or revoked if the patient or a qualified surrogate can participate in decisions. Advanced directives can include preferences about resuscitation, but they’re broader in scope and not as immediately actionable across all settings. They may guide future care if the patient can’t speak for themselves, but a DNR is the clear, explicit instruction used in the moment of arrest. An organ donor card relates to eligibility and consent for organ donation after death, not to whether resuscitation should be attempted during an active cardiac arrest. Euthanasia concerns are about ending life to relieve suffering and are governed by different ethical and legal frameworks. So, the document that directly communicates a patient’s resuscitation wishes during a cardiac arrest is the Do Not Resuscitate order.

The main idea is documenting a patient’s wishes for how to be treated if their heart stops. The Do Not Resuscitate order is the specific medical order that directly tells clinicians not to perform CPR or other life‑sustaining measures if cardiac arrest occurs. It’s an actionable instruction placed in the patient’s chart that all care providers (emergency, hospital, and outpatient teams) must follow, and it can be updated or revoked if the patient or a qualified surrogate can participate in decisions.

Advanced directives can include preferences about resuscitation, but they’re broader in scope and not as immediately actionable across all settings. They may guide future care if the patient can’t speak for themselves, but a DNR is the clear, explicit instruction used in the moment of arrest.

An organ donor card relates to eligibility and consent for organ donation after death, not to whether resuscitation should be attempted during an active cardiac arrest. Euthanasia concerns are about ending life to relieve suffering and are governed by different ethical and legal frameworks.

So, the document that directly communicates a patient’s resuscitation wishes during a cardiac arrest is the Do Not Resuscitate order.