Short summary

The law regarding the right for 60+ to refuse resuscitation attempts enhances self-determination but requires knowledge of both the options available and the consequences involved. A national collaboration between organisations, patients, and healthcare professionals is underway to gather experiences and conduct evaluations. This includes an overview of registered refusals, informal collection of experiences from all sectors of healthcare, interviews with citizens and healthcare professionals.

Rationale

Security in everyday life for the elderly is strengthened, among other things, by allowing them to have a say in their treatment at the end of life. The new law, effective from January 2025, grants individuals aged 60 and over the right to refuse resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest, but this requires knowledge and information. As the law is new and significant, it is essential to gather experiences on how it operates in practice. The aim is to ensure that care and treatment align with the individual's wishes during the final phase of life.

Description of the cohort

• Registered refusals, including age and gender, from 15 January 2025 to 31 January 2026: • 20-25 citizens who have registered a refusal. • 20-25 healthcare professionals • Calls (number/reasons) regarding refusals to the "Resuscitation Line", Danish Council for Resuscitation from 15 January 2025 to 31 January 2026. • All patients who died at Lillebælt Hospital (and, if possible, other hospitals) from 15 January 2025 to 31 January 2026.

Data and biological material

• Quantitative overview of the number of registered refusals. • Semi-structured interviews with citizens and healthcare professionals • Calls (number/reasons) regarding refusals to the "Resuscitation Line", Danish Council for Resuscitation from 15 January 2025 to 31 January 2026. • Mortality review for all patients who died at Lillebælt Hospital (and, if possible, other hospitals) from 15 January 2025 to 31 January 2026. • Informal experience collection throughout the project group's colleagues, networks, etc.

Collaborating researchers and departments

The Danish Health Data Authority

• IT Project Manager Susanne B. Noesgaard

Danish Society for Patient Safety

• Consultant Physician, External Consultant Ove Gaardboe

Danish Council for Resuscitation

• Specialist Physician, Chair Sebastian Wiberg

General Practice, Nr. Åby

• General Practitioner Sverre Strøm

Societal Analysis, DaneAge Association

• Senior Consultant Anna Wilroth

Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Kolding Hospital

• Pre-Hospital Physician, Consultant Physician Lisa Seest Nielsen

Danish Heart Association

• Chief Consultant in the Cardiac Resuscitation Area Rikke Primdahl

Nursing home "Bakkegården", Vejle

• Care Centre Manager Helle Wittig

Nursing Professional Development Team, Skive Municipality

• Nurse Diana Gaarskjær