In the U.S., CPR and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) will not be performed if a valid written "DNR" order is present. Although state laws vary, it is typical for emergency medical services personnel who are presented with a valid DNR form, signed by your doctor, or who identify a standard DNR bracelet on you, to comply with the DNR order.

The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) allows patients with a DNR order to do the following:

1. Prevent over treatment of elderly/disabled Medicare/Medicaid patients for the profit motive.
2. Save money for Medicare and the private insurers in the form of the reduction of end-of-life costs for Medicare and the private insurers when elderly Medicare/Medicaid patients would ELECT/CHOOSE to refuse expensive ICU/CCU life-extending or life-saving treatments in the hospital in order to shorten their suffering unto a certain death.
3. Wearing a DNR bracelet or necklace has become standard way for people to communicate their choice of a natural death over life