Do not resuscitate

I have to say my first reaction was LOL is the OP really asking this question, but after reading the comments and a quick search on the internet, such a thing does exist.

You learn something new everyday.
 
I think a DNR can be a very reasonable thing. If I were hit by a car or similar and found not breathing, but with obvious head injuries, so the likelihood is I'd be in a coma and if I did come round would have limited capacity, then I certainly wouldn't want to be revived.

So in that situation, how do you ensure that you won't be placed in a situation where you are in a coma and kept alive medically, but instead allowed to die at the scene (AND?). Both the DNR/AND on your record and a tattoo giving immediate indication of it? I'm not even sure if it's possible but I, and I'm sure there are others, would not like to be revived if they are going to end up with very low quality of life or years in a coma, and this can only be the outcome from unwanted intervention of medical professionals.
 
Dr.EM said:
I think a DNR can be a very reasonable thing. If I were hit by a car or similar and found not breathing, but with obvious head injuries, so the likelihood is I'd be in a coma and if I did come round would have limited capacity, then I certainly wouldn't want to be revived.

So in that situation, how do you ensure that you won't be placed in a situation where you are in a coma and kept alive medically, but instead allowed to die at the scene (AND?). Both the DNR/AND on your record and a tattoo giving immediate indication of it? I'm not even sure if it's possible but I, and I'm sure there are others, would not like to be revived if they are going to end up with very low quality of life or years in a coma, and this can only be the outcome from unwanted intervention of government
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Fixed ;)
 
Luke said:
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.
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The patient telling them is a difficult one - if the patient is of sound mind and has capacity and witholds INFORMED consent, then it could be argued that they have given an advanced directive (as is allowed by the mental capacity act), and have signed it and had it witnessed by one other person - the ambulance crew can count under this, then it *is* legally valid, especially if they then proceed to arrest later on during the call
 
Dr.EM said:
I think a DNR can be a very reasonable thing. If I were hit by a car or similar and found not breathing, but with obvious head injuries, so the likelihood is I'd be in a coma and if I did come round would have limited capacity, then I certainly wouldn't want to be revived.
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A DNAR isn't for a general desire not to want to be revived in case of accidents, it's issued in the case of severely debilitating conditions. Also, if a DNAR was issued due to a chronic condition and the patient was subsequently knocked over by a bus, paramedics would revive them despite the DNAR. It is only valid for the condition it was issued for.
 
Luke said:
A DNAR isn't for a general desire not to want to be revived in case of accidents, it's issued in the case of severely debilitating conditions. Also, if a DNAR was issued due to a chronic condition and the patient was subsequently knocked over by a bus, paramedics would revive them despite the DNAR. It is only valid for the condition it was issued for.
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Though if the patient was knocked over by a bus, chances of survival are extremely slim, in fact we only have to do 5 minutes of CPR (assuming the patient is in asystole, which is likely in blunt trauma) before we can say they're dead, that's an exception though!
 
brainiac ghost said:
The patient telling them is a difficult one - if the patient is of sound mind and has capacity and witholds INFORMED consent, then it could be argued that they have given an advanced directive (as is allowed by the mental capacity act), and have signed it and had it witnessed by one other person - the ambulance crew can count under this, then it *is* legally valid, especially if they then proceed to arrest later on during the call
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My example of the patient was a bad one. I can think of no circumstances where the patient would need CPR and was in a position to deny treatment.
 
Luke said:
My example of the patient was a bad one. I can think of no circumstances where the patient would need CPR and was in a position to deny treatment.
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I've had a patient deteriorate pretty rapidly, went from talking, but looking a bit pale into cardiac arrest within 30 seconds, though from what I gather (I'm still relatively inexperienced) that's pretty rare!
 
2nd year Student Para

Edit: sorry if it appears I'm contradicting you, in the vast majority of cases I'd be wanting to see a proper DNAR form signed by a doctor, the only real exception would be if they had verbalised it to me AND signed a document that was witnessed by someone in my presence, the chances of that are extremely slim - it also has to be specific in so much as it can only cover specified treatments in specified circumstances
 
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Its not generally a card you carry around with you - rather something you'd agree to, with medical professionals, in a nursing home/hospital when close to the end.

Situation in the OP is silly and a bit unrealistic.
 
Luke said:
Lucky git, I'm trying desperately to get onto a para course but now have to wait for next Septembers intake at the earliest.
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Keep persevering and you'll get it - if you need any help or advice my email address is in trust. Also, come to herts, we have some very knowledgeable lecturers :)
 
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