Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Dec 19.
Published in final edited form as: J Clin Ethics. 2016 Winter;27(4):281–289. doi: 10.2217/bmm.10.117
1. Should a physician have the right to withhold CPR, even if a surrogate wants resuscitation?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
2. Should ECMO be initiated in a DNR patient?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
3. Should there be presumed consent for ECMO?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
4. Should initial consent for ECMO contain a provision that it may be discontinued if deemed futile?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
5. Should a religious objection to ECMO discontinuation preclude its initiation?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
6. A patient on ECMO becomes asystolic. Should CPR be initiated?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
7. A patient on ECMO is DNR and becomes asystolic. Should CPR be initiated?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
8. Should ECMO support be increased if a patient has a DNR order?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
9. Should surrogate consent be required to discontinue ECMO?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
10. Should a physician have the right to discontinue ECMO over surrogate objection?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
11. Should a surrogate have the right to discontinue ECMO over physician objection?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
12. A patient on ECMO is made DNR. Should ECMO be discontinued?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
13. Should ECMO be used to maintain perfusion and preserve organs for transplantation?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
14. Given the cost of ECMO, should its use be restricted?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes
15. Should a physician conduct a “slow code” when surrogates demand futile resuscitation?
Definitely no Probably no Possibly no Possibly yes Probably yes Definitely yes