[Contraindications and termination of resuscitation]

The physician's task is to recognize the patient who is not going to benefit from the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). He is obliged to decide whether the CPR should be initiated at all, or should it be terminated if already started. Two points are to be considered: the natural history of the present illness and the wish of the patient. Acting against those rules injures the patient's dignity and makes the unavoidable dying longer.