Dying with Dignity: The Need for Pastoral Care for Patients with Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders

This paper highlights the role of pastoral/spiritual care for patients facing a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. Although DNR is sometimes seen as an unfortunate way of foregoing the patient's hope to survive, it can be a form of pastoral care to let them die with less pain through withholding excessive and burdensome treatment, thus keeping their dignity intact. More importantly, pastoral care involves the indispensable loving support of families, pastors/priests, and community members.