well, I definitely think that once you've got to the point where a rescucitation attempt is going to be a painful and horrible thing, you should have the OPTION to say "do not rescusitate". Personally, if I'm very old or suffering a terminal illness and it gets to that last moment and someone is in the room, I want them to hold my hand and let me go peacefully and with dignity, rather than hauling me out of bed, ripping my nightie off, and trying to drag my pulse back to my frail shell of a body for a few extra days or weeks. However that's MY take on it regarding MY life and others may feel differently. The default should certainly not be "leave them to die" and definitely not from a saving resources point of view. That's all I'm saying as I'm not allowed to get upset about the Daily Mail any more, it uses up too much energy in ranting.