Expert: Patients should make views known on resuscitation

Patients who do not want to be resuscitated should make their views clear before a life-threatening illness strikes, in order to help prevent stand-offs between families and medics, a leading doctor has said.

Speaking before a conference on the issue last night, Dr Patrick Plunkett, clinical professor of emergency medicine at Trinity College Dublin, said the controversial step would ensure the protection of peoples wishes.

While there is still no legal framework to support the issue in Ireland, a draft HSE document outlining ways the potential step could be introduced is currently open to submissions from the public.