An 86-year-old palliative client is found lying in bed with the absence of a heartbeat and undetectable respirations. They have a standing Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. However, members of their family are strongly opposed to this request. Which of the following actions should the health care team take?

Select one:

1. Do not resuscitate the client
2. Resuscitate the client
3. Explore the family's feelings
4. Compromise by offering limited resuscitation options

The health care team should not resuscitate the palliative client with a DNR order, despite the family's opposition, because it's imperative to respect the patient's legally documented wishes.

Explanation:

When an 86-year-old palliative client with a standing Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is found without a heartbeat and no detectable respiration, the health care team should respect the patient's wishes as legally documented. In this scenario, given the legal and ethical obligations of medical personnel to honor advance directives, the correct course of action is to not resuscitate the client. While the feelings of the family are important and can be explored, they do not override the predetermined wishes of the client. Moreover, offering limited resuscitation is not an acceptable compromise because it contradicts the explicit instructions laid out in the DNR order.

Respecting a DNR is part of the broader conversation about dying with dignity, an important concept in palliative care and end-of-life decisions. Ultimately, the legal and ethical considerations in these situations ensure that a patient's autonomy and prior decisions are maintained, even in the face of emotional challenges and familial disagreements.