If your heart or breathing stops and you have a valid No CPR Order, it means that your healthcare team or first responders will not try and restart them. Sometimes this is also referred to as “Do Not Resuscitate” or “DNR.” You can cancel a No CPR Order after it has been signed.

For a No CPR Form to be valid, it must be signed by:

• A consenting adult (either you or your substitute decision maker)
• Your physician or nurse practitioner

Patients with a No CPR Order may still receive other types of care, such as pain and symptom management, antibiotics, dialysis and nutritional support.

Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) 

A MOST is another way to record your wishes for healthcare in the event that you are unable speak for yourself. It is based on conversations with your doctor or nurse practitioner about the levels of care and medical interventions you do or do not wish to receive in certain medical situations. A No CPR Order is only about CPR, whereas a MOST may include orders about CPR and other medical interventions.

Choosing to create a No CPR Order is a significant decision. It requires careful consideration of your personal circumstances, wishes and values. Discussing the decision with your loved ones and your healthcare team is encouraged. Your physician or nurse practitioner can help you understand the risks versus benefits of resuscitation.

If you are a substitute decision maker filling out the form for a loved one, these considerations apply to you as well.

When you have made the decision to create a No CPR Order, you will need to take the following steps:

1. Access the No CPR Form (PDF, 591KB) online or get a copy from your primary care provider’s office
2. Read the front and back of the form thoroughly
3. Fill out the patient portions of the form
4. Ask your physician or nurse practitioner to complete the “physician/nurse practitioner” section of the form

No CPR Form (PDF, 591KB)

Once completed, a copy of the No CPR Form should remain with you and others within your circle of care should also have a copy. Your circle of care team includes members of your professional health care team (for example, your physician or nurse practitioner and community health, assisted living or long-term care service providers) as well as your invited friends or family members providing care. People often put the form on their fridge at home so it can be easily seen.

You may also want to carry a copy of the form with you (for example, in your wallet or purse) or wear a No CPR bracelet or necklet. Your preference for No CPR can be enabled by wearing a No CPR bracelet or necklet (for example, MedicAlert®). Emergency services personnel are trained to look for a No CPR bracelet or necklet during an emergency. 

You can change your mind and cancel the No CPR Order at any time, even after it has been signed by you and your physician or nurse practitioner. To do so, take the following steps as soon as possible: 

• Speak to your physician or nurse practitioner
• Tear up the signed No CPR Form
• Stop wearing your No CPR bracelet or necklet and inform MedicAlert® of the update (if applicable) 

If copies of the No CPR Order were shared with your circle of care, they should be informed of the canceled No CPR Order as soon as possible. If you used a service such as MedicAlert® you will need to inform them of the update.