Do not resuscitate
- Thread starter Narj
- Start date
why would a person have this card on them? only reason i can think of is if they are old or suffering from a long term illness (my late grandad had it on his hospital bed)
they probably would 1. not find the card 2. carry on regardless. what's the person going to do, press charges?
they probably would 1. not find the card 2. carry on regardless. what's the person going to do, press charges?
Normally, they'd look for id in a wallet. The argument I'm trying to settle is with the pressing charges bit.
From a legal perspective, I have no idea whatsoever, but I'd be inclined to say that if that's all that it said, they'd completely ignore it. In theory, anyone could have written that and left it about their person. I've seen my grandmother's DNR, and that had to be witnessed by two other people, signed by herself, and then by a further person confirming they believe her to be of sound mind. I don't think a bit of paper on its own would cut it, really.
Caporegime
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That's a US thing isn't it?
An ambulance crew would ignore it.
A DNAR form is a legal document signed by a GP on a specific form. It has a review date which if it has passed renders the form useless.
Simply writing it on a piece of paper doesn't count.
@Raymond Lin - No, they are used in the UK. I have seen a couple in the last 12 months.
The old version looked like this: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Img/312784/0091076.gif
A DNAR form is a legal document signed by a GP on a specific form. It has a review date which if it has passed renders the form useless.
Simply writing it on a piece of paper doesn't count.
@Raymond Lin - No, they are used in the UK. I have seen a couple in the last 12 months.
The old version looked like this: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Img/312784/0091076.gif
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that is correct, but the problem lies in looking for that said piece of paper, while someone is in arrest. this would not be practical, and very stupid.
but there is a solution, many people have had this very message tattoo'd across there chest.
but there is a solution, many people have had this very message tattoo'd across there chest.
Unless of course resucitation would bring on more misery.
They have to have a DNR in place lodged, normally, with their GP however it could also be lodged within the hospital or care home they reside in. Also, a family member is legally allowed to instruct a DNR for someone after discussing it with their relatives doctor if they are seriously ill.
If resus is carried out with the knowledge that a DNR is in place then the hospital/trust can be sued by family.
If resus is carried out with the knowledge that a DNR is in place then the hospital/trust can be sued by family.
which has no effect whatsoever.
Not correct. I appreciate where you work (given your sig) but if ambulance crew attend a patient with a KNOWN DNR in place then they should not carry out resus procedures.
well, if they're that intent on not wanting to carry on, why don't they just have weetabix and weed killer for breakfast? doesn't involve innocent parties then
This argument came about as part of a discussion assuming someone had a serious illness but had 'had enough' and didn't want to survive another episode. We were discussing the mess of people having to go to switzerland to get some form of final release and were wondering whether this would be a viable idea or even valid as the law stands.
Grim subject, I know!
Grim subject, I know!
No. Unless the form can be presented at the time of arrest then it is treated as if not in place and resus will commence.
(This is certainly the case in my trust, and not just from a CFR perspective.)
We may be at cross purposes here. Unless the paper is waved in front of the paramedic at the time of arrest, it for all intents and purposes does not exist.
If they attended the same patient the day before and saw a DNR with 3 months left on it but it was not available to see today, they would start resus as if they had never seen it. A relative telling them it is in place, or even the patient (when conscious) telling them it was in place is meaningless unless they have the certificate there and then.
If they attended the same patient the day before and saw a DNR with 3 months left on it but it was not available to see today, they would start resus as if they had never seen it. A relative telling them it is in place, or even the patient (when conscious) telling them it was in place is meaningless unless they have the certificate there and then.
I honestly want to know if the ambulance crew would pay any attention to such tattoos whatsoever...