quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I look forward to a sudden, quick, painless death. I’m not one for a long life of ever declining health.

I have a Do Not Resuscitate order in my trust. But how do people know if I’m just out in public? If I get into an accident and the EMTs come. How would they know not to resuscitate? Or a good samaritan applying CPR or mouth to mouth?

I would not expect anyone but a trained doctor in a hospital setting to honor a DNR and I would not want anyone else to do so. It is unfair to expect someone operating in an emergency to understand how to honor a DNR.

What if you are unconscious and your heart is still beating, but you are about to bleed out? Do you want a first responder to without life saving treatment at that time? Too many variables for a first responder or good samaritan to deal with.

To me, a DNR is for people with a terminal illness or it is obvious to the attending physician that this person has no chance at recovery.

Perhaps I'm confused with the jargon and terminology.

But to me, DNR means if I'm dead, my heart has stopped and I'm not breathing, don't bring me back to life.

It's not don't treat me if I'm injured or unconscious or just bleeding out.

If I'm dead, let me stay dead.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Perhaps I'm confused with the jargon and terminology.

But to me, DNR means if I'm dead, my heart has stopped and I'm not breathing, don't bring me back to life.

It's not don't treat me if I'm injured or unconscious or just bleeding out.

If I'm dead, let me stay dead.

Your heart may still be going while you aren't breathing. You aren't dead quite yet. It's been pumping all your life. It's going to keep trying.

People are going to have good intentions. Many are trained to keep you going and may be just following training.

Maybe a DNR necklace w/ a message in addition to a wrist band?. I'm not sure.

My late mother, I had her DNR info on top of the fridge as that seemed a common place for medical info for responders.
Because I was with her almost 24/7 it was not something that came up.
She entered hospice at home eventually and at that point there are no 911 calls.

If DNR is your wish, the most important thing is to talk about it with your wife/husband/significant other ahead of time. If you go down at home and someone calls for medical help, they’re going to work you. Don’t want that? Make sure those around you know NOT to call.

I would have a card in my wallet next to my drivers license with emergency contact info and mention of DNR on the card.
While that wouldn't be the legal document, it might get them to ask the question of your contact person and remind them to bring it (signed & notarized document) along to a hospital.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Perhaps I'm confused with the jargon and terminology.

But to me, DNR means if I'm dead, my heart has stopped and I'm not breathing, don't bring me back to life.

It's not don't treat me if I'm injured or unconscious or just bleeding out.

If I'm dead, let me stay dead.

The hard thing would be if you happen to expire in a place where there isn't somebody who is aware of your wishes (and that probably has documentation). The first responders (and even bystanders) are probably going to try.

There is a difference in a DNR , and a Living Will . I think they are being confused here .

I'm an EMT in Spokane, and this very situation came up a few days ago. Until the patient's DNR form (a POLST form, in Washington) was verified to be filled out correctly and the fire department crew had contacted medical control, we coded the patient. After that, we ceased our efforts. A tattoo or bracelet is irrelevant to us.

Let me explain something to all you civilians:

Your idea of what DNR means and what physicians and nurses think it means are very different.

Your idea is, I’m brain dead, everyone knows it, don’t do anything like shocking my heart to try bringing me back. That’s what we ALL want.

What the medical community understands is: he has had a cardiac arrest due to ventricular tachycardia; this is eminently treatable with a simple shock, he’s only been down a couple of minutes, he should come back good as new. But he has a DNR order, so we legally can’t shock him. Sorry, fella!

I’m thinking of getting a tattoo on my chest: DON’T STOP UNTIL I’M CHARCOAL!
Well, just kidding about that.

But please, do not repeat NOT hamper your survival from a heart attack or cardiac arrest by having a visible wristband, tab, notation on your iPhone or whatever that says “DO NOT RESUSCITATE” unless you are terminally ill or age 100 and tired of the hassle.

I have seen this in real life: someone comes in the hospital for a minor procedure. The residents admitting in California are REQUIRED BY LAW to ask if the patient wants to be resuscitated in case of cardiac arrest. I’ve seen patients in for a cardiac cath who said yes to DNR. If the patient had a treatable but potentially fatal heart rhythm—which is NOT uncommon—I would legally have had to let them die. Fortunately I clued in the nurse practitioners what to do: an exception is made for a medical/cardiac procedure.

ONCE AGAIN: WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHAT THE DOCTORS/NURSES/EMT’S THINK IS NOT THE SAME!!!! DO NOT DIE A STUPID, AVOIDABLE DEATH BECAUSE OF MISUNDERSTANDING THIS!

In the last few years I was working word had gotten around to let the deceased pass away, then call the funeral home. Then we ran into an issue where the funeral homes were calling 911 every time they got a call like that so we could assure the patient was actually dead. Apparently they went to pick up a few that were still barely alive.

Yes.... the "Bring out your dead" analogy...

Kind of an odd thing to say that you look forward to a quick, sudden, and painless death....

Sounds like a plan for suicide to me, or at least it could easily be interpreted as that by others.

I can only hope for a holy death, on God's terms. Whether that is before I finish this paragraph, or 50 years from now, painless or excruciating, quick or drawn out, would all be up to Him.