Is a Do Not Resuscitate order morally acceptable?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a life-sustaining treatment and as such should be morally evaluated as is any other type of life-sustaining treatment. In some circumstances resuscitation may be ethically proportionate and in other circumstances it may be ethically disproportionate. If it is judged that cardiopulmonary resuscitation will either not have any reasonable hope of benefit or will be an excessive burden, then a Do Not Resuscitate order is morally justified because it prevents what would be ethically disproportionate.
