PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Gilmour, J. M.
AU  - Rosenberg, P. J.
TI  - Medicolegal considerations in the initiation and termination of resuscitation in Canada
DP  - 1989 Feb 01
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 279--288
VI  - 140
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/140/3/279.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/140/3/279.full
SO  - CMAJ1989 Feb 01; 140
AB  - Medicolegal issues in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiac care were considered in the United States by the National Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in 1985. This paper discusses these issues in the Canadian context. Although there is little legislation or case precedent in Canada to guide providers of CPR in decision-making, there appears to be little risk of liability or prosecution for competently rendered care. Providers should be cautious in withholding or withdrawing resuscitative measures from incompetent patients when brain death has not occurred and cardiovascular unresponsiveness has not been demonstrated. However, resuscitation may be withheld when a competent patient refuses it or if there is another medically and legally valid reason to do so.