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Do Not Resuscitate Orders, ID Bracelets & Experiences
Do you have a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate Order) with your primary care physician? Do you wear a medical ID bracelets/necklace with DNR instructions? What experiences have you (or if you are a caregiver) had with Medical IDs, specifically with the DNR orders? Is there anything critically important that you should consider before you put this on your id and what has happened to people who wear it. (I mean do the EMTs follow instructions?) Appreciate insights.
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@cathy58 Our local volunteer fire department also likes to see information posted on a patient's fridge! I am looking into getting some to be handed out by them and our City Hall, from https://www.thefileoflife.org/about
Ginger
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2 ReactionsOn my latest visit with my doctor we spoke about this. He was agreeable to signing one and so we did. It is on my refrigerator and I have informed people who need to know that I have one.
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2 ReactionsI think you may be talking about a POLST [physician's order for life sustaining treatment]? You can choose the level of care you want if you are not able to verbalize it. I also have one, keep a copy in my glove compartment in car if there is an accident. Also, my medical alert bracelet has DNR on it as a line item.
Ginger
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3 ReactionsNo. I am talking about a Do Not Resuscitate Order.
In some hospitals in US, UK and France- if your close family says no, that usually overrides your request(not every time but often). Either that or the family try to sue the hospital. They say because their loved one was alone with no advisers-they were talked into it by those trying to free up beds. I know this is not true. Moreover, the families say their loved one was depressed and so did not have their full reasoning powers.
The only way around this is to tell your family and make sure they agree. It’s difficult but not impossible.
My younger sister worked as a senior nurse in all three countries above over a 20 year period. She also worked in Germany but I don’t know what their situation is.
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4 Reactions@magsbrad Along with DNR orders, which should be on file in your hospital [at least in my state they strongly encourage it!], if someone has decided to be an organ/tissue donor, they are registered with DMV and have it notated on their license. It can be a time of high emotions when a loved one is at the end of life. Having plans in place, making sure everyone knows, goes a long way to easing difficult conversations. My husband has told me his thoughts many times, but I had to really encourage him to document all of those thoughts in order for it to be "official".
Ginger
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3 ReactionsExcellent comment. Thanks.
I also had my Dr. sign POLST. Have one on my fridge and with my power of attorney. Thanks for the idea of keeping it in my car. Maria.
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5 Reactionscan you get these ID bracelets for DNR anywhere? or do you have to special order them?
@danny5 I order mine custom made to include pertinent information. One of the things is the DNR letters. Personally, I like to use Medic Alert Foundation.
https://www.medicalert.org
Ginger
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