NOT FOR RESUSCITATION ORDERS

Early day motion 732, tabled 16 May 2000 by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 39 members.

That this House notes with concern the growing number of reported cases of inappropriate use of not for resuscitation (NFR) orders; believes that there is a gap between guidelines and practice which leaves patients and family members uninvolved in the decision to mark a patient's records 'NFR'; notes that research reported in the British Medical Journal found that two out of three patients with NFRs were not involved in the decision and that patients with NFRs were 30 times more likely to die; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to stamp out this immoral practice and issue clear instructions to the NHS on the use of not for resuscitation orders.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 15, Labour/Co-operative 2, Conservative 1.