PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDES TO CARDIOPULMONARY-RESUSCITATION IN DEPARTMENTS OF GERIATRIC AND GENERAL MEDICINE

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the elderly has long been a contenti ous issue. We have established by means of a postal survey the attitud es of 300 consultant geriatricians, 300 consultant physicians and 249 registered nurses to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We also audited 40 0 case notes to document current practice in departments of general me dicine and medicine for the elderly. No formal resuscitation policies were in operation. Geriatricians were more likely than physicians to m ake a positive resuscitation decision (p<0.001), and involve nursing s taff in the decision-making (p<0.001). All professional groups felt ag e was unimportant in deciding on resuscitation, while the patients' pr ognoses and their wishes were most important. Case note audit revealed that geriatricians were better at documenting resuscitation decisions . Inappropriate resuscitation of patients is unacceptable. Each depart ment or hospital ought to have agreed guidelines for cardiopulmonary r esuscitation.