DNR orders?

Question

I've been told that being resuscitated is against religious beliefs, and therefore, many religious people are against them, and have DNR orders.

However, in research, I found that being of a chance to live, but dying anyhow, is a form of euthanasia, and is also considered a vague type of suicide.

But to many, suicide is against religion, as well.

So, you either sin by allowing yourself to be resuscitated, or you sin by taking part in a form of assissted suicide. Either way, you can't win.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

(I posted this question once before, but a typo and some bad wording made it unclear; I'm reposting it now, just explained a bit differently.)

First of all, I don't mean any insult here, I'm simply curious.

I took part in a debate in this, and several people brought up religious reasons against resuscitation. In addition, my former church's pastor brought up that several religions are against it; I'm not sure which.

Answer 1

I really don't know, it all depends on how you look at religion and medicine. Are you sinning by going to the doctor for cancer or pneumonia? Because maybe God's plan is for you to die from that affliction. Is medicine a sin because it prolongs life, when it is God's plan to take it away? Who knows.
I personally don't think that DNRs are sinful.

Answer 2

I didn't know that there were people with a religious objection to any kind of resuscitation, but it doesn't surprise me. Now watch them sue counties whose paramedics saved their lives.

Maybe these fundies should have their own DNR bracelets or necklaces made, and advertise it widely so that all medical personnel can recognize them. They should have a black cross on them with the words clearly printed, "Do not resuscitate." I think this would be very valuable. I would hate to see someone die because they got a lower order of priority in triage on account of being bumped by someone who didn't want to be saved anyway. If I was a doctor or paramedic, I would be extremely angry if I lost a patient because some fundie DNR was saved instead, due to lack of appropriate ID.

I guess the only consolation would be if the person who died was an organ donor. You can be sure that the kind of fundies we are talking about would NEVER allow that kind of desecration to happen to their "temples."

Answer 3

My mother has a DNR in her will, which also names me as medical power of attorney. I would honor my mothers wishes, as hard as that might be to do when that time comes. I watched my husband's mother who was a retired RN and had all the proper wording have her living will disregarded by the doctors because her children would not let go. She had a feeding tube inserted, directly against her instructions. The medical people are more afraid of being sued by the living than of a person who is in the process of dieing. She lived a few more months, one stroke following another, and nobody could tell of she was aware of pain, surroundings, or anything as she was unable to respond. Her last conscious motion was to shake her head "no" to the feeding tube. Honoring my mother is the only thing I would know to do, as that is a Commandment. I believe that God is not standing in judement of either choice, He is however pretty clear on being part of actually ending another life, such as euthanasia.

Answer 4

I simply think it is a personal choice. I have watched people be resuscitated and sure they were still breathing but I would not call it living. I do not judge anyone on this matter because it is personal. And, I don't consider not being resuscitated suicide.

If it came to a situation where I would either die or live w/o being able to function or think on my own. . .then I would hope no one would be selfish enough to resuscitate me.

Answer 5

As a former RN who worked with dying people this is a pertinent topic to me. I feel that if there is no hope for the person, they are dying, it is CRUEL to resuscitate them unless they themselves insist upon it and then it is torture to the staff if they end up having to do this...

It seems to me that DNR is a good choice for those people so ill there is no hope and that have strong faith in an afterlife. I think that the way you have it figured this issue out is very inaccurate and your thinking is based on inexperience with life and death as well.

Answer 6

Catholics are PRO LIFE with dignity.

Does this mean they should give up life saving treatments? In the cases where the life saving treatment hurts their dignity or anthers human dignity then it is not endorsed by the Church. So, people can choose DNR because they believe when God calls them that they want to go. Or, in medical procedures where one life is sacrificed for another (lung transplants, heart transplants, and FETUS stem cell) this also harms the dignity of the donor. Medical procedures like heart valve surgary, cancer treatments, and adult stem cell research is endorsed by the Church --- however, the individual can still refuse "Over zealous Treatments." Here is what the CCC says about Euthanasia:

2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.

2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.

2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.

2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.

Answer 7

I am a Hospice volunteer, and many of my patients have DNR orders. I completely understand their reasonings. Most DNR orders are not based on religious beliefs, but of the terminal illness they will inevitably pass from. They want to pass with dignity and not be given CPR in front of loved ones.

Answer 8

It's hard to say. Often the Bible can get really confusing on the right and wrong aspects. I think no matter who you talk to you will get a different answer. This may be a personal belief that you make, rather than something you are told. Everybody has their reasoning on why they believe in something and so I don't think there is a straight forward answer for this one.

Answer 9

i work for a non profit that provides for the eldery. many have DNR's. when the quality of life is so degraded say after a stroke, many don't want to live that way and it's best to pass to the next level.

and it's not assisted suicide because the body is already dying not by your own hand, rather nature. so no it's not self murder and not a sin.

Answer 10

Being resuscitated is not against the belief or practices of the Catholic faith.

Euthanasia is against the beliefs of the Catholic faith, but it is not necessary to sustain a life by extraordinary means.