I have a question. I have a case study that I am struggling with. I have a patient who attempted to commit suicide by a self inflicted gunshot wound. His wife died a week prior and he left a suicide note stating he was too heartbroken to go on. He is non responsive, right pupil fixed and dilated. Very large extended family show up. A neurosurgeon was consulted and he says prognosis is not good even with surgery, however, family still wishes for the surgery to be done anyways. Once the patient is prepped and in the OR they receive a call that the patient signed a DNR order 2 days ago. AS the OR nurse what are your legal and ethical issues now? Do you honor the DNR or the family's wishes?
I have to explain what my legal and ethical issues are which originally I was leaning towards if there is a DNR order present then you honor that despite the circumstances because the man had to be found in his right state of mind when he signed, right? And if the patient needs surgery does that exemplify the DNR order? I have researches where some say yes and others say no.