Case Notes
Dr Graham Easton's programme on medical and health issues returns for a new series, opening with a look at one of the most controversial practises in British hospitals at the present time.
Many elderly and terminally ill patients now have the letters 'DNR' stamped on their hospital notes - chilling shorthand for the command 'Do Not Resuscitate', which means that doctors and nurses must take no action in the event of a cardiac arrest or other life-threatening emergency.
More than two-thirds of patients and their families, however, are not involved in the decision-making process as to whose lives are worth trying to save.
Are these initials further evidence of deteriorating standards in our hospitals, or is the medical system finally acknowledging that aggressive, hi-tech intervention is not necessarily in the best interests of every dying person?
Most watched News videos
- New video shows Epstein laughing and chasing young women
- Epstein describes himself as a 'tier one' sexual predator
- Buddhist monks in Thailand caught with a stash of porn
- Sarah Ferguson 'took Princesses' to see Epstein after prison
- Skier dressed as Chewbacca brutally beaten in mass brawl
- British Airways passengers turn flight into a church service
- Jenna Bush Hager in tears over disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
- Forth Bridge fireball fall into village streets
- China unveils 'Star Wars' warship that can deploy unmanned jets
- Amazon driver's furious rant about deliveries captured on ring camera
- Inside London's terrifying crimewave as gangs target high end stores
- Authorities give update on search for Savannah Guthrie's mom
