Hawaii medical journal
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Patients with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders may elect to have palliative surgery. Should DNR orders be automatically suspended in the operating room (OR)? This article addresses the following issues: (1) Ethics of DNR orders. (2) The American Society of Anesthesiology's Ethical Guidelines for the Anesthesia Care of Patients with Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders or Other Directives that Limit Treatment. (3) The Statement of the American College of Surgeons on Advance Directives by Patients. (4) Current hospital policies regarding perioperative DNR policies in Hawaii. (5) Recommendations to improve DNR policies in the OR.