What is commonly omitted from a written DNR order?

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a legally binding document that outlines a patient’s wishes regarding resuscitation efforts in the event of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. One common aspect that is typically omitted from a written DNR order is the medical history of the patient.

The reason for this is that a DNR order is focused on the specific decision not to perform resuscitation, rather than detailing the patient's entire medical history. The order usually contains essential information such as the patient’s name, the physician’s orders, and signatures, along with the date of the order's execution. However, including an extensive medical history is not necessary for validating the DNR order, as the primary concern is the patient's autonomy in choosing to forgo resuscitation.

While signatures and dates are crucial for the legal validity of the order, and witnesses can be important depending on jurisdiction, the medical history serves no function in the context of this specific decision and thus is often omitted.