The DNR order does not stand in other situations, such as non-life threatening accidents, etc. (such as a broken leg. The patient would be transported in this situation). There are many ethical decisions that will have to made by the emergency department in these situations, and they will literally have to play "God" in some decisions, which may be ethically and morally difficult for some personnel. Some people believe that DNR orders are not legal or moral, and the staff has no authority to act on them. However, the patient's wishes are at the heart of this ethical dilemma, and they should always be discussed and adhered to. It is the patient's life, after all, and not the medical department's life that is on the line. A DNR order is a highly person decision, and no person creates one of these orders lightly. They must understand the ramifications of the order, and they must understand that...
This is a difficult situation ethically, morally, and legally. If a patient has a heart attack, and they have a DNR order, the emergency department should not transport this patient, because ethically, they are going against the patient's wishes, and legally they are ignoring a legal document. Family members did not sign the document, so they do not have jurisdiction in the matter. The DNR is a patient's desire, and has nothing to do with the family.
In conclusion, patients who have suffered a debilitating disease or condition that have a DNR order on file should not be transported by emergency department staff, because it goes against the patient's desires and wishes.
