What is the primary goal of treatment in managing a patient who has a do not resuscitate-comfort care only order?

The primary goal of treatment for a patient who has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) and comfort care only order is to maintain comfort without resuscitation efforts. This approach focuses on providing palliative care to alleviate pain and other distressing symptoms while respecting the patient's wishes to avoid any invasive procedures or aggressive treatments that could prolong life.

In a comfort care setting, interventions are aimed at improving quality of life and ensuring that the patient is as comfortable as possible in their final days, rather than attempting to cure an illness or prolong life through resuscitation. This philosophy aligns perfectly with the intent of a DNR order, which clearly stipulates that no resuscitative measures should be taken in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest.

While administering strong opioids can be a part of the comfort care strategy, it is just one aspect of a broader approach that prioritizes overall comfort rather than focusing solely on medication management. Similarly, providing invasive life-saving measures directly contradicts the intent of the DNR order. Consulting the family for treatment decisions might be important in many contexts, but in the case of a DNR and comfort care only situation, the primary focus is on the patient's expressed wishes and comfort, rather than involving the family