Do not resuscitate
- Thread starter Narj
- Start date
They are obliged if an official DNAR form is signed and kept in the house of the patient. These are normally left as a 'message in a bottle' - normally stored in a fridge, with stickers placed at entrances to the property with directions to the bottle.
I am in the process of organising one such request for somebody i saw last week
Have a read here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/Preparation/DG_10029429
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Wut? It's a point of discussion and interest that came about after a few beers with friends; I'm not looking to get "DNR" tattooed on my chest or anything, and I don't have a terminal illness.
I think the point made about being resuscitated after severe injury to live a very poor quality of life is a good one. Look at the cases of those fighting for the right to die who don't have the capacity to do anything about it themselves. It'd be nice to have some sort of register to convey your wishes in such a situation but I couldn't see it ever happening.
Re: David Cameron comment/RFID chips - that's why I said it'd be open to abuse in today's society, so it's a no go.
Thanks muchly for the input from those in the know.
I've only had 1 patient as a responder that was DNR. Very very said, she was taking her last breaths when we arrived, and we couldn't help at all, just tried to support the grieving husband as much as possible. He called 999 in a panic, hence the reason we were called.
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On the subject of DNARs ours are in a stupid red colour which are very hard to photocopy and I never found out the reason why.
Ours are purple - even worse!
That depends on whether you are lowlife or not.....
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How on earth is DNR legal?
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Because people have the fundamental right to decide on their own medical treatment should they have the capacity to do so.
Absolutely, why on earth should it be illegal!?
There are two different things.
Firstly, DNACPR forms which are generally created in hospital by a clinician in consultation with the patient (or their NOK where the patient is not capable).
Secondly, Advance Directives are created by a patient themselves and do not require the involvement of a clinician. These can state a wide variety of things such as that they do not wish to be resuscitated, or they they do not wish to receive bloods and so forth. They need to be signed by the patient and witnessed by a non-relative who states that they are of sound mind etc. On the whole, the GP should be informed of the existence of an Advance Directive but it is not essential.
Both forms should be within the patient's medical records and would be adhered to in hospital. On the whole, ambulance crews would be unaware of their existence so would be unlikely to act upon them.
Firstly, DNACPR forms which are generally created in hospital by a clinician in consultation with the patient (or their NOK where the patient is not capable).
Secondly, Advance Directives are created by a patient themselves and do not require the involvement of a clinician. These can state a wide variety of things such as that they do not wish to be resuscitated, or they they do not wish to receive bloods and so forth. They need to be signed by the patient and witnessed by a non-relative who states that they are of sound mind etc. On the whole, the GP should be informed of the existence of an Advance Directive but it is not essential.
Both forms should be within the patient's medical records and would be adhered to in hospital. On the whole, ambulance crews would be unaware of their existence so would be unlikely to act upon them.
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Not within the records but at the very front where the Alerts section is.
FACT - in 2 years of messing with Medical records I have only ever seen a DNAR twice in the correct place.
You only revive assho.... oh I see.
probbaly not if you needed resuscitating....
"well he's not breathing, check his id mate we need to know his name before we give him cpr"
red is generally a colour that alerts people to it compared to normal black and white print and is easy to spot flicking through notes during an arrest where time is of the essence. Photocopying it in most circumstances isnt needed in fact it would be hard to actually validate it at the most important time i.e. at the arrest. if its a photocopy for all you know it has been scrapped with the original copy having been destroyed and you wouldnt know if it is still in place. I personally would feel uncomfortable in just going on a photocopy.
The ones I use in the community have 2 carbon copies one for district nursing notes, and one for our GP held record with the original being with the patient at home. They are almost exlusively used for people moving toward an end of life pathway with a terminal illness or for very frail people in a nursing home who may not be expected to die imminently, but who dont wish for and in most cases resuscitation would be unsucessful anyway. We keep a log of all we have in place and when the review date is due so we can keep them up to date and valid or remove as necessary.
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Thinking about this wouldn't you just be a bit gutted if you had to grab someones wallet and take it to them but you had an accident on the way there. It has a DNR card in the wallet so would the Ambulance Crew ignore it until another family member confirms it?
