The DNR option is relatively recent as I don't remember it being around for much of my nursing career. I do remember when I worked on the oncology unit that patients were still limited on how much pain medication they were allowed because they could get addicted. I didn't understand that then - I fought with doctors over this. If a patient is dying, does it matter? And most of the patients weren't going to be around long enough to get addicted anyway. But I got tired of fighting and gave up nursing in the late 80s so hopefully things have changed.
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