The family of a UK woman have won their claim that her rights were violated when an order not to attempt resuscitation was put on her medical records without her being consulted. [s]The Guardian[/s] reports that according to the family's legal team, the case of Janet Tracey underlines a legal duty of NHS bodies to consult patients before making such ‘do not resuscitate’ orders.
The report says doctors and nurses have professional guidance on the issue but health trusts in England also decide their own policies on how the decisions are made. The family argued that many are confusing and do not include any information for patients and their families.
[link url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/17/hospital-patient-rights-do-not-resuscitate-addenbrookes]Full report in The Guardian[/link]