Women and minorities hurt worse.
What is more important and more understandable to most people is this question: If you act like you’re dying, what would you like us to do? If you do not want the physical trauma of CPR chest compressions (the pain of that, should you wake up, will make you wish you were dead) then sign a DNR.
If you look like you’re dying and you don’t want CPR (which will maybe restart your heart) what comfort measures do you want? Do you want your pain to be kept to a minimum? Do you want your lips kept moist?
In our state, we have the Five Wishes form. It is not a DNR, but you can have both. The Five Wishes allows you to specifically state how you want to be treated if you are actively engaged in dying. It’s a much more important document that a DNR, as it lets YOU, the patient, determine what kind of treatment you want.
I would seriously advise all reading here to look into the End of Life care paperwork your state has. And when you fill it out, fill it out with the person who is most likely to be calling the shots for you.
My experience is this...EVERY place I've worked...did not...and continues to be the case....they don't ask the question.."Are you a DNR"?
On one side...I think that question should be asked...Because I've seen what I've seen.
On the other hand....I think...this article is crap.
A DNR might also make you fair game for the organ harvesters, too.
A discussion about DNRs on an Internet forum is full of half truths and suppositions.
Does my 97 year old mother in law want four ribs broken while getting CPR? Because that’s what it means.
Do your homework. Make your decision. Tell your family.
No need to share stories on the inter webs with people who have no idea what they are talking about.
I do, and I mean it.
I give DNR patients the exact same care as those that are not DNR except in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest. All my colleagues in the hospital
do the same. Unless the patient and family specifically direct that they do not want ICU transfers or more aggressive care. I encourage everyone to
have thought out whether they want cpr, resuscitation, and aggressive care prior to a crisis. Having clear well thought out wishes that have been discussed with your loved ones makes a crisis situation much easier on all
Involved
I’ve seen what they are saying a few times...i would ask a nurse about specific lab information regarding the patient I was consulted on (I am not an MD).and they would say...”don’t worry....he or she is DNR”....I would retort....DNR doesnt mean “do not treat”..or “please let die”....or give them less than the best care. I can understand a nurses frustration but that attitude really pi**ed me off.Cuz every now and then someone who is DNR survives and is released alive from the hospital..
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-us-hospitals
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Bump for later.