Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR)

Explore respecting and protecting the rights and wishes of people.

Advance care planning helps people to have a good end of life experience by respecting the persons treatment and support preferences. Part of this plan may include a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decision which means the person does not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if their heart or breathing stops.

Decisions and good practice

We’ve developed a range of guidance and best practice resources to support the social care workforce use DNACPRs to support people’s treatment and support preferences when they become ill. These resources also support some of the key findings and recommendations from the Care Quality Commission’s report Protect Respect and Connect.

When should a DNACPR be put in place and used?

Advance care planning and end of life care

Find out what cardiopulmonary resuscitation is and when a person might want to make a DNACPR decision. Best practice in having conversations, recording what’s been discussed and how decisions are made when a person lacks capacity to make a decision about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

CQC report

The Care Quality Commission’s review is about the use of DNACPR decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Admission to hospital

Find out what happens to a DNACPR form when a person is admitted to hospital, what care and support workers should be aware of if they’re supporting someone in hospital. 

Managing, monitoring and reviewing 

Learn how and when to review or change DNACPR decisions. Good practice examples: tools and resources; training and support for care staff. 

People's rights to equal treatment

Advocating for people, checking details and when to challenge DNACPR decisions.

• Best interests – Alzheimer’s
• Best interests – Mind
• Best interest and mental capacity – Mencap
• Mental Capacity – Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
• Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs)
• Advance statements – Compassion in Dying
• The National Autistic Society – my health passport
• Mencap – hospital passports
• Learning Disability England DNACPR Support pack
• Learning Disability England DNACPR easy read
• Rights and Dignity The Human Rights Commission
• Treat me well Reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability in hospital
• Resus Council
• NICE Talk Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Project
• Compassion in Dying
• Common Core Principles and competences for social care and health workers working with adults at the end of life
• Bereavement for autistic people – guidance for professionals

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