Physician perspectives on the DNR order in Turkey: A survey of physicians in Internal Medicine

BACKGROUND: Do not resuscitate (DNR) is a controversial ethico-legal issue and there is no legal regulation in Turkey. Evaluating the physicians' views on DNR is critical to the current problems and contributes to legal regulation. OBJECTIVES: To examine the views of intensive care unit residents on DNR and the sociocultural and occupational factors affecting them. METHODS: The research is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consists of 203 residents of internal medicine working in the intensive care unit in a university hospital. A questionnaire form was used as a data collection tool. RESULTS: 62.6% of the physicians know that there is no legal regulation regarding DNR in Turkey, and 14.3% think that DNR is performed. Female physicians approve of DNR at a higher rate than men (p<0.01). Physicians with more experience in the profession stated that not all patients should be performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (p<0.01), and DNR should be a right (p<0.05). The vast majority of physicians stated that DNR should be legal (88.1%) and should be included in residency training (85.6%). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to establish legal regulations on DNR and implement residency training programs that will ensure the continuous professional development of physicians.