Summary
Contemporary guidance takes a patient-centred approach and recommends discussing and planning
treatments that should be considered, not just those that should be withheld. Although some organisations and
communities still use specific DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) forms to recommend
that cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not attempted, this approach has been shown to have disadvantages and
is no longer regarded as best practice. The following guidelines have been produced in response to this
change. They are designed to help anaesthetists, as part of the wider healthcare team, to implement and
respond to advance care planning documents before and during procedures. The guidelines apply to all
procedures, however minor and low risk they are considered to be, and the same ethical and legal principles
apply to procedures carried out under local or regional anaesthesia and/or conscious sedation, as well as to
those under general anaesthesia.