Mercedes Perez successful in “Do Not Resuscitate” complaint to College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario


Mercedes successfully represented the appellant before the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board in an appeal of a CPSO decision.  The CPSO had determined that the physicians had not breached the standard of care in unilaterally placing a “Do Not Resuscitate” order in a patient’s chart without consent.  The physicians had unilaterally determined that resuscitation efforts would be futile.  The substitute decision maker (Mercedes’ client) disagreed and had requested “Full Code”.  On appeal, the HPARB determined that the CPSO had not considered the principles for consent and substitute decision making in the Health Care Consent Act.  The Board’s decision is available here.