The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has called for improvements to the process and communication surrounding do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR), so doctors, patients and families can make informed choices about care.
The report, entitled ‘End of life care: improving do not attempt CPR conversations for everyone’, found that end of life conversations often happen in emergency settings, may be left to a patient’s family, and sometimes patients are left out of these conversations completely.
The report includes case studies of people living with dementia and documents a series of recommendations to improve communication around DNACPR. You can read the report here: https://www.ombudsman.org.uk/publications/end-life-care-improving-dnacpr-conversations-everyone