This practical guide includes the information you need to understand how treatment and care decisions are made, how you can plan ahead to ensure you stay in control of these decisions, and who to talk to and share your wishes with.

In this section you can view and download all of our factsheets, research and publications free of charge. To find what you need, click on the categories and topics on the right hand side or type into the search box.
If you can’t find what you need, or have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
We are committed to providing up-to-date and accurate information, and are proud to have received accreditation from the NHS England Information Standard.
All of our printed information written for the public that meets these requirements carries the Information Standard logo.
Read more about how we produce our information.
This practical guide includes the information you need to understand how treatment and care decisions are made, how you can plan ahead to ensure you stay in control of these decisions, and who to talk to and share your wishes with.
In late 2011/early 2012 Compassion in Dying contacted all Ambulance Trusts in the UK with a Freedom of Information request, which asked questions on their Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) policy, end-of-life care registration systems, out-of-hours care and the use of Advance Decisions (formerly known as living wills).
Prompted by callers to the Information Line – who voiced concerns that paramedics might not have access to their Advance Decision – we contacted all Ambulance Trusts in England and Wales to find out what systems they have in place to record patients’ medical treatment preferences in the event that they lose capacity and whether patient preferences are adhered to.
This factsheet explains what cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is, CPR success rates, how to refuse CPR, what a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) form is, how to get a DNAR form, and how a DNAR differs from an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment.