The DNR Order after 40 Years

In the 40 years since its introduction, the do-not-resuscitate order has become part of our society's ritual for dying. The concept expanded the domain of informed consent, while contributing to ongoing controversy over appropriate care for dying patients. Forty years ago, on August 12, 1976, the Journal was among the first to report hospital policies on the process for making and communicating decisions about a patient’s resuscitation status. 1 Today, the do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order has become a part of our society’s ritual for dying, and DNR is one of the most widely recognized medical abbreviations. The DNR order marked a transformation in the traditional scope of informed consent. As originally conceived, seeking the patient’s informed consent for treatment was eliciting permission to be touched. By extending this concept to include permission not to be touched, the DNR order became . . .