The Western journal of medicine
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Although patient preferences are important in decisions about "do not resuscitate" (DNR) orders, little is known about how physicians discuss these orders with patients. We asked 15 physicians to simulate discussing such orders with a patient. ⋯ Physicians gave conflicting reasons for how they individualized discussions with patients. Awareness of such different behaviors may stimulate physicians to examine what they say to patients about this sensitive and important topic and why they say it.