Clinical model for ethical cardiopulmonary resuscitation decision-making

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Decisions to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for future cardiac arrest continue to be problematic, with a lack of consistency in how doctors approach this decision. AIMS: To develop a clinical model that can be used in education to improve consistency in CPR decision-making. METHODS: A qualitative study, using semistructured interviews with a total of 33 senior doctors, junior doctors and nurses from two Melbourne hospitals explored how decisions to withhold CPR are made. Interviews explored: issues arising; how doctors learn to make these decisions; how they deal with disagreement and their experiences of performing CPR. The transcripts were coded and analysed thema..