Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: who makes the decision?

...Despite the poor response rate to the questionnaire (43%) our results clearly show that few doctors seek patients' views when deciding whether to resuscitate. Furthermore, many doctors would attempt to resuscitate patients with little or no prospect of recovery. Doctors generally believe that it would distress patients to discuss resuscitation. In our survey, however, all patients thought that it was appropriate for doctors to discuss it with them, and most wanted to take part in the decision. Indeed, the wishes of many of the older patients conflicted with the doctors' decisions. If doctors are to satisfy the guidelines for withholding resuscitation they will have to make important changes in the way they practise.