Bird, J. orcid.org/0000-0001-7150-3199 and Wilson, F. orcid.org/0000-0003-1617-2854 (2022) Do not resuscitate orders in the time of COVID-19: Exploring media representations and implications for public and professional understandings. Progress in Palliative Care, 30 (5). pp. 269-280. ISSN 0969-9260
Abstract
Context:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK press featured headlines that heightened concerns around Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) orders, particularly the use of ‘blanket’ DNACPR orders applied to older people in care settings. The portrayal of DNACPR may impact professional and public understandings with implications for end-of-life care.
Objectives:
To explore the portrayal of DNACPR orders in the general and academic press and consider implications for public and professional understandings and practice.
Method:
Academic papers and articles published in the general press during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK were retrieved. Those pertaining to the use of DNACPR orders were analysed thematically.
Results:
Analysis of 179 media articles and 11 professional commentaries identified mixed understandings of DNACPR as indicated within three themes: rationing of acute services, championing autonomy in DNACPR decisions, and communication and trust. The call to ‘protect the NHS’ marginalised palliative and social care services with DNACPR constructed as a rationing tool. This led to ethical challenges around autonomy, DNACPR decisions, communication and trust.
Conclusions:
Media coverage of DNACPR orders was contentious and raised questions around the value of life and quality of dying, particularly for vulnerable individuals. DNACPR orders were conflated with frailty, futility and rationing of acute services and the marginalisation of palliative care. Nevertheless, media outputs stimulated advocacy and support for human rights and autonomy. However, it is unclear what the legacy will be for public and professional understandings of advance care planning and the quality of dying.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. |
Keywords: | Resuscitation orders; Palliative care; Autonomy; COVID-19 |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Sheffield Teaching Hospitals |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Yorkshire Cancer Research S406JBI |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 06 Apr 2022 08:56 |
Last Modified: | 04 Nov 2022 09:56 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Informa UK Limited |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/09699260.2022.2052505 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:185437 |