News

New CPR guidance published

The British Medical Association, Royal College of Nursing and the Resuscitation Council (UK) have issued new joint guidance on making decisions about when to attempt cardio pulmonary resuscitation (trying to restart someone’s heart/breathing).

The new guidance can be accessed HERE. This Guidance updates previous editions published jointly in 2001 and 2007, both often referred to as the ‘Joint Statement’.

Everyone’s heart and breathing stops when they reach the end of their natural life. To allow a peaceful and dignified death it is important to identify people for whom CPR won’t work or would not be wanted, so that painful, undignified, intrusive and pointless efforts to resuscitate during the person’s last moments of life are avoided.

The UK guidance and Scottish policy aim to support this process and also to ensure that patients and families are involved in choices about their care. The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care welcomes the new guidance and the planned review of Scottish policy.