Do not resuscitate

Narj · 20 Apr 2012 at 22:52

Just wondering...

If a person had a card or piece of paper on them with the words, 'do not resuscitate', is an ambulance crew legally obliged to comply with the request/directions?

Narj · 20 Apr 2012 at 22:58

cm1179 said:
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?

Normally, they'd look for id in a wallet. The argument I'm trying to settle is with the pressing charges bit. :-)

Narj · 20 Apr 2012 at 23:04

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!

Narj · 20 Apr 2012 at 23:06

RomanNose said:
DON'T JUMP, WE LOVE YOU PIANOBASHER.

Jump from where? I'm too busy playing morrowind!

Narj · 20 Apr 2012 at 23:13

soundood said:
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.

I honestly want to know if the ambulance crew would pay any attention to such tattoos whatsoever...

Narj · 20 Apr 2012 at 23:18

Tyron said:
The OP could be discussing the ramification of a failed attempted suicide for all we know.

I was more angling at people with a terminal illness.

Narj · 20 Apr 2012 at 23:31

DirtyJester said:
more like what did you just slip inside your bosses pocket ....

foiled!

If it wasn't so sinister, I'd suggest that maybe everyone should be tagged electronically at birth so that medical records are available to emergency crews. Way too open to abuse though in this society, especially if it's rfid.

Narj · 20 Apr 2012 at 23:37

Btw what sort of tattoo artist would put those words on someone's chest no questions asked? :/

Narj · 21 Apr 2012 at 07:59

~>Dg<~ said:
ok do you know what he wants to know why he wants medical information ?

medical information = medical thread.

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.