ABSTRACT
Advanced directives and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders are forms of directives that guide human health care providers as to the type and extent of medical care that should be provided to patients. Although rarely used in the veterinary clinical setting, such directives would allow pet owners to specify the type of medical care, if any, that should be provided to their pets in the event of an accident or life-threatening condition. The implementation of advanced directives and DNRs in the veterinary clinical setting is a daunting endeavor. The advance directive known as a living will is a written document wherein patients specify in advance of a terminal illness or serious accident, the type of medical care they wish to receive should they lose their ability to make medically related decisions. Advanced directives and DNRs are commonly used in human hospitals, which have policies and forms that can be modified and tailored for use in veterinary hospitals.
