When faced with a situation in which a patient is in cardiac arrest, and a valid living will or DNR order cannot be located, you should:

When a patient is in cardiac arrest and there is no accessible living will or Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, the appropriate action is to begin resuscitation immediately. This principle is based on the ethical obligation to preserve life in the absence of clear evidence of a patient's wishes against resuscitation. Emergency medical professionals are trained to act swiftly in life-threatening situations, prioritizing the patient’s immediate needs for oxygen and circulation.

In the absence of a DNR, there is a presumption that resuscitation efforts should commence. This approach aligns with the goal of providing care that is in the best interest of the patient, ensuring that every possible effort is made to save a life unless there is explicit documentation or communication indicating a refusal of such treatment.

Considering how this responsibility fits within the emergency medical response, contacting medical control might seem like a consideration but is not the best course of action in an immediate life-threatening scenario where rapid intervention is critical. Notifications like contacting the coroner are irrelevant at this stage, as they pertain to post-mortem protocols rather than immediate life-saving measures. Determining the patient's illness is important in a comprehensive treatment approach; however, it shouldn't delay the initiation of crucial resuscitation efforts during cardiac arrest