CMO (Comfort Measures Only)
Formal Definition
A care designation indicating that the goals of care have shifted entirely to symptom management and comfort, with no life-prolonging interventions. Equivalent to "comfort-focused care" or hospice-level care in the inpatient setting.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Going CMO" or "making the patient CMO" — a goals-of-care transition after discussion with patient and/or family.
Example
""Family meeting with all four children — unanimous decision to transition to CMO. Stopped pressors, discontinued monitoring, started morphine drip for comfort. Chaplain and social work at bedside.""
Clinical Context
CMO is a clinical and ethical decision, not just an order set. It requires documented goals-of-care discussion, ideally with palliative care involved. CMO ≠ "doing nothing" — it means doing everything for comfort (pain, dyspnea, anxiety, secretions). Morphine is appropriate and does not hasten death when titrated to comfort.