Recently DNR decision require socioeconomic, legislative, and bio-ethical considerations in an end- of- life care in Korea. This study is to organize the basic data on the DNR process and legislation system through the research of DNR order placed in the ICU of Korea. The study analysed by reviewing 121 patients medical records in the ICU of a University Hospital from June to July of 2002. As a result, 68.4% of patients were taken the DNR among the patients who were hospitalized in the ICU of internal medicine, surgery, coronary care and neurosurgery for the research period. 92.6% were residents who ordered DNR. 67.8% of DNR order were made verbally and none of them were ordered written. DNR decision were made by a guardian after interview with doctors (94.2%) and 24.8% was decided by sons and daughters, 22.3% by spouses. 74.4% of DNR permission record were not kept and 31.4% of DNR note was written in both medical progress note and nursing record, 23.7% was only in nursing record, 22.3% was only in medical progress note. The code words in the medical progress note are 27.6% is written as 'No CPR' or similar terms, 25.6% was 'DNR', 19.8% was 'conservative care' and 22.3% has no note at all. The code words in the nursing record are 55.4% is written as 'DNR', 5.8% was 'No CPR', and 32.2% has no note at all. CPR experience before DNR was 43%, one time experience was 90.3%. 58% of DNR was decided on the death date and 44% of DNR decision was decided one day before death date, and 18% of DNR was decided two days before death date. In conclusion, it is required to investigate continuously for the protocol development and application for the DNR decision in their medical records.
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