In this situation, is it ever ethically permissible for a physician to write a âdo-not-resuscitateâ (DNR) order? In 1995 the Veterans Health Administration National Ethics Committee (NEC) issued a report entitled Futility Guidelines: A Resource for Decisions about Withholding and Withdrawing Treatment.This report did not, however, comment specifically on how futility might apply to DNR orders.n 1995 the Veterans Health Administration National Ethics Committee (NEC) issued a report entitled Futility Guidelines: A Resource for Decisions about Withholding and Withdrawing Treatment. This report did not, however, comment specifically on how futility might apply to DNR orders.