July 27, 2026 · Resuscitation · DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2026.111224

Emergency response with lights and sirens to patients with a suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and a do-not-attempt-resuscitation order in the hospital record: a one-year observational study

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This study investigates the frequency of emergency vehicle dispatches with lights and sirens to patients with suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) who have a do-not-attempt-resuscitation (DNAR) order documented in their hospital records. The authors found that 15.7% of dispatches involved patients with a DNAR order, highlighting a significant ethical concern regarding patient autonomy and resource utilization. They advocate for improved accessibility of DNAR orders to prehospital care providers to prevent unnecessary resuscitation attempts.

Peter Hjelmager Schmidt, Martha Juul Kristensen, Søren Mikkelsen, Stig Nikolaj Fasmer Blomberg, Ove Gaardboe, Louise Linde, Tina Svenstrup Poulsen

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