Is It Permissible to Refrain from Performing CPR on a Patient with a DNR?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Is it permissible to refrain from performing CPR on a patient with a DNR order? Also, as a nurse, is it permissible to administer medications containing haram ingredients if prescribed by the physician?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

It is permissible to refrain from performing CPR on a patient with a DNR order. Also, it will be permissible to administer medications containing haram ingredients to patients.

Refraining from CPR on a Patient with CPR Order

Resuscitation is a method for patient recovery. However, there are instances when it may not be effective, leading some to adopt a “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) order due to potential harm or the lack of a cure. As a nurse, you may refrain from performing CPR on a patient with a DNR order in place.

Administering Medication as a Nurse to a Patient

If a doctor prescribes a medication containing impermissible ingredients, a nurse must still administer it. As a nurse, you are responsible for giving the patient medication, not the one who prescribed it. Therefore, you are not held accountable for the doctor’s prescription; your primary duty is to care for the patient.

[Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, Ahmad al-Hanafi, Minhat al-Suluk Fi Sharh Tuhfat al-Muluk, Zayla‘i, Tabyin al-Haqa’iq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. In sha Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

Related

• Supplying Medication Containing Unlawful Ingredients 
• Is it Permissible to Use Medicine with Haram Ingredients?

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I pray this helps with your question.

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

قوله: (ولو مرض فترك المعالجة توكلاً على الله فمات: لم يمت عاصياً) لأنه ليس في ترك المعالجة إهلاك النفس، لأنه ربما يصح من غير معالجة، وربما لا تنفعه المعالجة.
ثم التداوي جائز، لقوله عليه السلام: “تداووا فإن الله عز وجل لم يضع داء إلا وضع له دواء غير داء واحد: الهرم” رواه أبو داود. وقال عليه السلام: “ما أنزل الله من داء إلا أنزل له شفاء” رواه ابن ماجة.
 منحة السلوك في شرح تحفة الملوك
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ثم التداوي بالحلال جائز لا واجب، فمن ترك المعالجة فمات لم يمت عاصيا لأنه ليس في ترك المعالجة إهلاك النفس، إذ ربما يصح من غير معالجة وربما لا تنفعه المعالجة.
فتح باب العناية بشرح النقاية
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  ولذا يأثم بتركه كما يأثم بترك الأكل مع القدرة عليه حتى يموت بخلاف التداوي ولو بغير محرم فإنه لو تركه حتى مات لا يأثم كما نصوا عليه لأنه مظنون كما قدمناه تأمل
 رد المحتار-ابن عابدين
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  والتداوي لا يمنع التوكل، ولو أخبره طبيب بالدواء فلم يتداو حتى مات لا يأثم بخلاف ما إذا جاع، ولم يأكل مع القدرة عليه حتى مات حيث يأثم؛ لأن زوال الجوع بالأكل متيقن به باعتبار العادة فإن الله أجرى العادة بإزالة الجوع، وخلق الشبع عند الأكل لا يتخلف عنه أصلا بخلاف المرض عند التداوي فإنه في حيز التردد،

تبيين الحقائق شرح كنز الدقائق وحاشية الشلبي –  المطبعة الكبرى الأميرية – بولاق، القاهرة

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.