Do Not Resuscitate Orders, ID Bracelets & Experiences

@danny5 I’ve done a bit of research. Interesting and in accordance with my expectations.

It seems that a DNR which is properly documented (that needs to be emphasised!) is legally binding on medical professionals and they can face legal consequences if they ignore it.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/8866-do-not-resuscitate-orders
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8996286/
A DNR is not binding on people who aren’t medical professionals.

@isadora2021, thank you for finding these and posting them. it is very imperative that everyone here read both articles. do not hesitate to read them both. Daniel

I completely believe that the entire medical system is geared toward quantity of life rather than quality of life. Medical professionals rarely have to defend against making decisions that produce a poor life quality, and do have to defend (expensively) against decisions that can be interpreted as shortening someone's life.

This unfortunately can make prioritizing quality over quantity an act of moral courage. And most of us are not known for our moral courage. I fail to see why the average medical professional should be any different from the rest of us in that regard.

In addition, I'm sure it's true that when face to face with a specific situation rather than an abstract circumstances, people change their minds. I'm staring down the eventual barrel of Alzheimer's. Is what I want now going to be different than what I want when I'm past the MCI stage? Beats me.

Until quite recently from a historical and cultural perspective, we all just died of stuff. And choosing when or whether to die was not something most of us had to struggle with, including people in the medical profession. In the meantime, we're stuck at the point when society is figuring this out, it's hard, and the wrong answer happens more than it should.

I like the hospice suggestion. Also having a good personal relationship with your key medical professionals (so they know you as a human rather than a cluster of symptoms), and going on record wherever you can about your preferences.

❤️🛐🥃😢🧑‍🚒. ? DNR ? My new PCP has mentioned this to me. I’ll let the Man Upstairs decide

@projfan We live in such a litigious society. Also one where freedom of choice to die is taken away. Often by doctors who ignore the quality v quantity tension. Also by those whose religious beliefs may cause them to interfere in other people’s choices. All sorts of reasons.

It is good to see the law around DNR but it’s so important to do what we as adults need to do within that law to try and prevent our legal rights from being ignored, especially by doctors.

There is a POLST that is one page and easy to read and understand. This is what my internist and my parents senior community want people to have. It’s MUCH shorter than the advanced directive.