Do Not Resuscitate

mellowyellow

mellowyellow

Well-known Member
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In Australia, a DNR order (Do Not Resuscitate) is a medical order to withhold CPR techniques. All families with aging parents should talk about what to do in the event of a serious or terminal illness.

A growing number of people, often older Australians, are having words “Do Not Resuscitate’ tattooed on their chests – some even have ‘PTO’ tattooed on their backs to make sure.

But this tattoo is not a legal request and if you suddenly have a heart attack at the supermarket or are involved in a car accident, it won’t mean a thing, your request will be ignored by hospital staff and you’ll be brought back to the land of the living whether you like it or not.

We will get this done when the time comes, makes total sense to me.

Does your country have a similar ‘do not resuscitate’ document?
 

Gaer said:
Keesha, Does it have to be a legal document? Can't I write out, sign and date something to carry around with me?
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Perhaps. I’m not actually sure. I know I’ve seen ‘do not resuscitate on legal documents


Good question Gaer
You have the option to :

1/. Use a form provided by your doctor
2/. Write your own wishes down on paper in safe compartment
3/. Call health department and get documents
That would be Health Canada here
4/. Call a lawyer
5/. Use a computer software package

I think I’d use the computer software package. Something I must consider soon.
 
We have the "do not resuscitate" documents as part of our will/powers of attorney, etc., documents. Part of our Medical Power of Attorney states that if we are involved in a major accident, or contract a terminal illness, etc., and there is little or no hope of recovery, the doctors just need to make our passing as orderly as possible. The kids are on board with these wishes, and they have the power of attorney to give to the doctors/hospital.
 
When an elderly person is in the hospital, they will often ask the husband or wife or other close family member if they want them to be resuscitated in the case where they stop breathing and need life support. When my elderly father in law had a major stroke, was half paralyzed, couldn't speak, etc., his wife agreed to the order when asked. There they just put a sign at the bottom of his bed with the instruction. Luckily nothing bad happened during that hospital visit, and he spent his last years in our home with us until he passed on. I would want the same for me if I was in bad shape in the hospital. That was over twenty years ago though, rules may have changed.
 
The only order I want obeyed is my request not to be taken to any Coronacooties hospital emergency room. I went around that block two weeks ago when I sideswiped a tree with my Ram and that's when they discovered I already had Coronacooties and I guess I was asymptomatic whatever that is. So no I don't ever want to go back to a Coronacooties hospital ever again. I'd be willing to pay EMS to take me straight to the morgue, a homeless shelter, Walmart, Greyhound Bus Terminal, AMTRAK Train Station or a dumpster behind the nearest 7-11 but no Coronacooties ER. No sir, no way, not me.
 
That is one question that a hospital will ask when you are admitted. I guess it depends on the reason for being admitted. I was admitted due to a couple of cancer surgeries. They have a form for one to sign.
 
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FastTrax said:
The only order I want obeyed is my request not to be taken to any Coronacooties hospital emergency room. I went around that block two weeks ago when I sideswiped a tree with my Ram and that's when they discovered I already had Coronacooties and I guess I was asymptomatic whatever that is. So no I don't ever want to go back to a Coronacooties hospital ever again. I'd be willing to pay EMS to take me straight to the morgue, a homeless shelter, Walmart, Greyhound Bus Terminal, AMTRAK Train Station or a dumpster behind the nearest 7-11 but no Coronacooties ER. No sir, no way, not me.
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If you already had Coronacooties, you're likely immune.
HAHA - "Coronacooties."
 
My mom had filled the California version of the document a few years ago and it was very useful when she passed last year. My dad was able to answer questions about not calling 911 for her by showing them the document. It made the whole process much easier for him and the rest of the family. I also believe it made the process easier for my mother because no one attempted to resuscitate her. She was able to pass peacefully without any intrusions. She had made her wishes known to everyone and even though we found it difficult to let her go we knew it's what she wanted for a long time.
 
have only had ONE surgery in my life that i would consider "major"... busted humerus and a "ORIF". among the pre-op stuff i had to do an "advanced directive"... what to do if my heart stops? some people say do NOTHING and just let me go. i want a chance but nothing extreme. try to jump start me once (maybe twice) but let me go if it's not working. i definitely don't want to be hooked up with tubes/wires just cuz my heart is still beating.... if i have NO idea what's going on nor have the chance to ever get that ability back.

my dad died of pancreatic cancer. from first diagnosed, he made it perfectly clear on several things. he really didn't want to be in the hospital. and he REALLY didn't want to just be kept alive for keeping him alive. he had NOTHING in writing! we had super grat hospice nurses at the end. i was told when the time came to call THEM first and not something like 911. ems would have to attempt to revive. dad would have been totally pissed if that happened.
 
My cousin had a DNR. They didn’t.

My good friend with umpteen serious things wrong with her, except for her spunk & sense of humour, was mortified when asked this at 77. She said “are you just going to let me die?” They didn’t.
 
As Hapi said, each state had its own "Laws" in reguards to a DNR....
In NC, outside the hospital, only the original yellow form within one year of signing is valid. living wills, tattoos, familys statements are not, The only other form is a MOST form. I recommend everyone to look at having both and keep them up to date, and let your family know...
DNR only applies if your heart stops. The MOST form addresses if you want on life support, feeding tubes ECT...
The other thing is to HAVE THEM AVALIBLE.... from an EMS standpoint... we must have the originals.... in hand... to be legal.
I have many many times arrived and they state they have one but its.... someplace... locked in the safe and dont know the combo...
and best ever.... at the bank in their safety deposit box...
 
It's best to have a living will. Hospitals do have notaries there to witness one's signature, my dad had to sign things the very day he died, poor man, but it's better to do this well ahead of time because you have to be conscious and lucid to do it.
 
I have yet to do a DNR but will soon....I do have a paper hanging below the wall calendar that sez IN THE EVENT OF MY DEATH READ ATTACHED",/. and I've put on the paper who to call, already pre-paid for cremation, sis is pod on bank, no one else to worry about, all belongings can go to dump, whatever...this is rental home so no probs there...cat is to go shelter for rehomeing....
 
I had cataract surgery five years ago, and an RN asked me to fill out a DNR. I said, "For CATARACT SURGERY at 63 years old??? No way! If I code on the table they'd better break out the paddles and whatever else they can find to bring me back to life!"

When they brought me into surgery the anesthesiologist said to me, "No DNR?" I repeated what I'd said to the nurse. She whispered to me, "I'm so glad you don't have one. They make everything so much more complicated in the rare case of an emergency."

Her remark was completely unexpected.

I don't want or have a DNR. Nor does my husband. When and if our bodies get decrepit, we'll consider them. In the meantime, we and our children can make that decision on each other's behalf if some unexpected adverse situation arises.
 
I really don't understand them and have not completed one yet.

My feelings are similar to StarSong's in that if I can be resuscitated and live a normal life then by all means do it but if I can't be expected to resume a relatively normal life then let me go.

The other issue for me is that I do not have anyone to act on my behalf to make those final life and death decisions.

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I don't believe most understand a "DNR" order. It's not a question of whether doctors withhold life saving techniques, it's that in the opinion of the medical staff resuscitation would only delay, for a very short time eventual death, so you give permission for them not to do those procedures. It's a document that gives your wishes when you are unable to. It is not if you get a bruise on your big toe, and if you go into cardiac arrest, the doctors walk out of the room. You can specify what you want done, or you don't want done. As a nurse, I've seen so many screaming matches when one family member wants all measures taken to keep a dying parent alive, and another wants to end their parents 'pointless' suffering. A DNR gives them something to work with.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I really don't understand them and have not completed one yet.

My feelings are similar to StarSong's in that if I can be resuscitated and live a normal life then by all means do it but if I can't be expected to resume a relatively normal life then let me go.

The other issue for me is that I do not have anyone to act on my behalf to make those final life and death decisions.

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Luv that cartoon.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!tenor.gif
 

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