What does a DNR order indicate?

A DNR order, which stands for "Do Not Resuscitate," specifically indicates that medical personnel are instructed not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event that a patient's heart stops beating or they stop breathing. This is a crucial directive that reflects the patient’s wishes regarding their end-of-life care and is typically established after careful consideration and discussions with healthcare providers and family members.

This order is particularly important in guiding the actions of emergency medical personnel and healthcare teams, ensuring that they respect the patient’s desire to avoid potentially invasive and aggressive interventions when resuscitation may not align with the patient’s goals or quality of life considerations. While DNR orders focus specifically on the resuscitation efforts, the other options involve concepts that do not accurately capture the specific intent of a DNR order.