Comfort Care Only – Do Not Resuscitate Orders

I’ve read several articles over the last couple of years about patients who have filled out a Do Not Resuscitate Form (DNR) for when they reach a point of having to live a permanently diminished life, only to have EMCs and doctors continue to administer lifesaving measure. The reason for this is that none of the medical professionals could locate a DNR in the files. So in addition to being resuscitated over and over again, putting their loved ones through a very painful ordeal and cutting into inheritance with ongoing medical costs, their last wishes have been ignored.

I have found many articles, including a blog in the New York Times newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com regarding this matter. One told the story of Lisa McAllister who had to (on top of dealing with her sick mother) insist to the head nurse at the nursing home that there was a DNR Form even though the nurse said there was none in her file. The search eventually turned up the DNR in a medical record kept locked away, but had it not been found, Lisa’s mother would have had to endure repeated attempts to restart her heart,making her last moments with her daughter, traumatic instead of peaceful.

Two of the main issues with DNR’s not being followed are location of them and who is aware of them. Lisa had known that her mother had one, but what if no one knows or the form is given to a hospital staff who files it and forgets it? Another reason DNR’s are not followed is that they are not executed according to state rules and regulations or are not clear.

Another article in the New York Times,  http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/why-do-we-avoid-advance-directives/?_r=2 Paula Span mentions a story about the fighting that goes on between family members when they don’t agree about whether or not a person should be kept alive by artificial means. One member may feel like there still may be hope and another will argue that it’s hopeless and inhumane to keep their loved on in that condition. This painful disagreement can be avoided by properly drafting a DNR Form and letting the people you love know that you have one and what it involves.

Talking about your death is always unpleasant for everyone involved, however, in the long run it will make sure your life ends the way you choose and the people you love are comforted in knowing that.