PHYSICIANS AS PATIENTS - CHOICES REGARDING THEIR OWN RESUSCITATION

Background: Attitudes toward cardiopulmonary resuscitation have change d considerably during the last 30 years. Although physicians are routi nely involved in the decision making about cardiopulmonary resuscitati on for their patients, little is known about their collective preferen ces regarding it for themselves.Methods: A questionnaire was distribut ed at an internal medicine primary care review course at an urban comm unity hospital. Of the 111 physicians registered at the meeting, 72 (6 5%) completed the questionnaire and serve as the basis for the results . Physicians were asked if they would want cardiopulmonary resuscitati on for themselves in the presence of an acute myocardial infarction, A lzheimer's disease, and nine other advanced chronic diseases at the pr ojected ages of 40, 60, and 80 years. Results: At all projected ages, physicians' desire for cardiopulmonary resuscitation with any advanced chronic disease was significantly less than with an acute myocardial infarction (P less than or equal to.000001 except for rheumatoid arthr itis). Fewer physicians wanted cardiopulmonary resuscitation at age 80 years than at 40 years for any disease (P less than or equal to.002). The results did not differ when analyzed by respondents' age, gender, or primary care specialty, or the size of the community in which they practiced. Conclusions: The results of this initial survey indicate t hat most physicians would not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation with a variety of underlying chronic diseases and corresponding functional impairments-particularly with advancing age. Conversely, with an acute myocardial infarction, all physicians surveyed would desire cardiopul monary resuscitation at age 40 years, and many would continue to desir e it with advancing age.