Does a patient (with a valid DNR) need the approval of a physician to change their DNR order?

Does a patient (with a valid DNR) need the approval of a physician to change their DNR order?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only if the patient is unconscious
• D. Only if the change affects life-sustaining treatment

Answer: (B)

The key idea is patient autonomy in medical decisions. A patient who has decision-making capacity can revoke or modify a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order at any time without needing a physician’s approval. Once the patient communicates the change, the healthcare team must update the medical record and inform all involved staff to ensure the new wishes are followed. If the patient is not capable of making the decision, a legally authorized surrogate or proxy would handle changes, with the physician documenting and implementing the updated order. So, with capacity, the patient controls the change directly, not the physician.

The key idea is patient autonomy in medical decisions. A patient who has decision-making capacity can revoke or modify a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order at any time without needing a physician’s approval. Once the patient communicates the change, the healthcare team must update the medical record and inform all involved staff to ensure the new wishes are followed. If the patient is not capable of making the decision, a legally authorized surrogate or proxy would handle changes, with the physician documenting and implementing the updated order. So, with capacity, the patient controls the change directly, not the physician.