The importance of discussing the do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order in brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic: reflections proposed by a saturated health system
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37497/ijhmreview.v7i2.267Keywords:
Infections, Coronaviruses, Conduct, Medical Ethics, BioethicsAbstract
Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic has brought health services a risk of collapse. The modern medical technologies allow artificial extension of life after a cardiorespiratory arrest through diversified techniques, such as the use of defibrillators and vasoactive drugs; these measures are called Advanced Life Support (ALS). On the other hand, these resources can provide unnecessary and unjustifiable extension of life, leading to what we conceptualize as dysthanasia. Aim: This work carries out a bibliographic review on the Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order, due to the risk of saturation of the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A literature review was carried out through an online search of scientific articles published in English and Portuguese between 2000 and 2020 in SciELO, PubMed and LILACS databases, using the following descriptors: Coronavirus infections; Resuscitation Order; Bioethics. Online documents and other information available in the Federal Council of Medicine website and the Code of Medical Ethics were also consulted. Results: The DNR order is still an unknown and little discussed topic, given that the end of life involves not simply practical aspects, also encompassing beliefs, spirituality and other factors related to personal experiences. Conclusion: DNR needs to be strongly discussed and, mainly, based on legal aspects, which does not yet happen. Putting DNR as a recurring topic of discussion aims to protect everyone involved in the death process, minimizing the damage inherent to this phenomenon.Downloads
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