DNR ruling undermines trust

I WAS appalled by last week’s revelation that blanket ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ orders had been placed on care-home residents, supposedly to ease the strain on NHS hospitals during the Covid pandemic. Doing this denies patients the right to life-saving treatment.

Shockingly, according to the major report by the Care Quality Commission health watchdog, some of the residents who were subjected to the orders were young – in their 20s and 30s – with learning disabilities.

How on earth is the British public expected to trust medical advice when things like this happen? The correct course of action is to approach the topic sensitively, when patients want to discuss it and in the company of someone they trust. If this isn’t happening, then something has gone horribly wrong.

If this has affected you, please write to me and let me know.