Religious Perspectives on Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Documents and the Dying Patient

Do-not-resuscitate (DNR)/do-not-intubate (DNI) and advance directive documents should be respected as a mode of extended autonomous wishes of the patients. These documents should, however, be interpreted within the clinical context in which patients find themselves when they present to the hospital. In cases of dispute, a physician need not act blindly in accordance with the family's wishes. Rather, a physician should exercise clinical judgment as to whether the wishes expressed within a DNR/DNI document or from family members represent the patient's best interests.