Definition

A legal document in which a person or their proxy (such as a spouse, relative, friend, or lawyer) states that health care providers should not use cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if that person’s heart or breathing stops. CPR is a life-saving procedure used to try to restart the heart and breathing after one or both have stopped. A do not resuscitate order is a decision only about CPR. It does not affect other treatments that may be used to help keep a person alive, such as medicine, food, or fluids. A do not resuscitate order may be included as part of an advance directive, such as a living will. Also called DNR order.