A court ruling over ‘do not rescuscitate’ orders has made it a legal requirement for doctors to include patients and families in decisions. Guidelines for doctors already recommend that patients and families are involved in such decisions, but the court ruling now makes it a legal requirement.

The issue was raised in a landmark judgement by the Court of Appeal that found doctors at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, had acted unlawfully in the case of Janet Tracey, who had terminal lung cancer and died there three years ago.

Her family say she and they were not consulted when a DNR notice was placed.

The issue has implications for care providers as well as hospitals and CFW will be issuing guidance on this issue shortly.

In the meantime, you can read the full story about the ruling on the BBC News website.