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Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

    Out-of-Hospital Nonresuscitation Act (169 of 2006)

    This act is specific to emergency medical service personnel and does not pertain to schools. It is up to each school entity to determine whether or not they will honor a DNR order. Below are some factors to take into consideration:

    1. Each request for a DNR order should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
    2. Schools should notify and work with local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) upon receiving a request. It is important to start the conversation with EMS when working on emergency planning before a request for a DNR order is received.

    Resources

    A Guide for Patients and Families

    Out-of-Hospital Nonresuscitation Act

    On Nov. 29, 2006, Pennsylvania enacted a statute (P.L. 1484, No. 169) that repealed the DNR Act and replaced it with the Out-of-Hospital Nonresuscitation Act (Act) (20 Pa.C.S. 5481-5488). The effective date of the Act is Jan. 28, 2007.  The Act empowers a person with an end-stage medical condition, or an appropriate representative of that person, to secure an out-of-hospital DNR order and, at the person's option or the option of an authorized representative, an out-of-hospital DNR bracelet or necklace.  These items, just as those that were issued under the former DNR Act, direct EMS personnel in the out-of-hospital setting not to provide the person for whom they were issued with CPR in the event of the person's cardiac or respiratory arrest. The Act also specifies the circumstances under which an appropriate representative of a person who issued a living will under the Living Will Act (20 Pa.C.S. 5441-5447) is able to secure an out-of-hospital DNR order, bracelet or necklace for the person.  (The Living Will Act replaced the Advance Declaration for Health Care Act. Hereafter, the repealed Advance Declaration for Health Care Act will be referred to as "the former Living Will Act" and a declaration issued under that statute will be referred to as a "living will," the same as a living will under the Living Will Act.)

    More DNR Information

    ​NOTE: This webpage contains resources, including links to websites created by outside organizations. These resources are provided for convenience and do not constitute an endorsement by the Pennsylvania Department of Health of any viewpoints, products, or services offered or expressed within.