Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 8 October (HL10211), what recourse is available to patients for whom a 'do not resuscitate' decision was made by medical staff prior to a surgical procedure without consulting either the patient or their family.

A Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) is a clinical decision made on the basis of a senior clinical assessment of a patient’s condition. It remains best practice to communicate this decision to the patient and if they lack capacity, their family or representative.

If the patient or their family or representative do not agree with the decision, they should be given time to ask for a second opinion or review. This is in line with the National Health Service guidance for DNACPR decisions. Guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions is available on the NHS website, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and what to do if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records.