'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
5 September 2008
THE HAGUE — Deputy Health Minister Jet Bussemaker has called on nursing and care homes for the elderly to establish a single resuscitation policy.
Parliament demanded a reaction from Health Minister Ab Klink when it was revealed in August that a home for the elderly in Amersfoort had introduced a policy not to resuscitate residents over 70 years old who have suffered heart failure, unless they had specified otherwise.
Bussemaker said she does not necessarily condemn this policy, but wants health carers to make clear the consequences of resuscitation after heart failure to elderly residents in terms of quality of life.
The deputy minister says the responsibility for establishing a common resuscitation policy should be left to the medical profession, not to government bodies.
[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]