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07-07-2017 08:50 PM
In AZ, the paper is bright orange and intended to be posted on the refrigerator.
07-07-2017 08:58 PM
It sounds like the laws may have changed. I live in NY and when my husband filled out his forms in his doctors office for him and the hospital we were told that everyone had to abide by his instructions except ambulance personnel. They were to follow their rules and once in the hospital your wishes would-be honored. We understand because we would not want them to have to access his needs or demise during that rush.
My husband's forms were filled out, signed and witnessed in his specialist office and they have a copy to the hospital where it was put in his file. He carried a copy and the original was in my pocketbook. They were in all those places for 4 years. He was in the IC for overnight observation for an AM procedure. His 2 doctors had just left us and all was a go for morning. He was in the best shape in over a year. As I sent to leave he had an attack. The nurses forced me out of the room and held me outside. I kept telling them he had a DNR order. They said not. They refused to give me my purse, refused to recheck his records, refused to call his doctor who was still in the hospital. They did their thing several times before they gave up. When they finally took me to him his bedsheets were without a wrinkle. He was stone cold. That is all another story but when the subject comes up I suggest people learn their laws and make sure everyone knows. We did all we were told and the intensive care employees did not follow the current laws.
When the surgeon and the specialist arrived the next AM for the check before surgery they found out what happened. I will just say the fur flew for quite awhile. They were furious.
I will look I to NY current laws. I have been avoiding it but it has to be done. Our family had a time when we did not have papers. Watching a loved one exist but have no brain activity and had to be kept on machines is hard. The ordeal almost caused us to lose 2 older family members who had heart problems. The doctor came in the middle of the night and gave us a choice. Watch Mom for another 3 weeks and lose Dad and Gram (her mother) or turn off the machines and let G D take over. We had Gram and Dad several more years. I don't want my children to have to make that choice.
07-07-2017 09:05 PM
Thank you to all who posted here. I have never heard of posting a DNR or any other necessary info either on the fridge or putting the paperwork in a Lock N Lock in the freezer. This will definitely be something that I will be doing in the next week. I have no idea if our EMT personnel even know to look for the info in the kitchen, but I will also be checking that out. Thanks again.
07-07-2017 09:18 PM
Not to make light of a serious subject, but my first thought was "Wow, how bad is the cook?"
Never heard of this either but mental note for my future self. Fabulous idea.
07-07-2017 09:21 PM
Thanks, all, for posting. I appreciate your input. I now need to decide whether or not I'm ready to post my wishes.
@lolakimono - no choking history. @Gram W - so sorry your husband's wishes were disregarded. It seems to me that the personnel involved could have been in serious trouble.
I wish you all a good evening.
07-07-2017 09:56 PM
@Gram W That's really awful. I'm in NY and I'm pretty sure that EMS workers and the like are to abide by the DNR. I can't remember for sure. My friend had one when he was going under hospice care and I just remember them telling us to bring it if he needed to go to the hospital for anything. He wasn't leaving the house at that point.
I do know someone whose friend has a DNR. She said she keeps one in the glove box of her car and has a big note on the glove box door saying it's in there.
07-07-2017 10:05 PM
@pigletsmom. He died in 1994 so much has changed since then. At that EMTs were the only people who did not have to abide by the papers. That is why he told me to never call an ambulance. Just get him to the van myself while he can help. I will look into things before I sign anything.
S Orry for the underlines. Don't know where they came from. Will correct.
07-07-2017 10:16 PM
In the state of Kentucky, a specific form must be completed that identifies a DNR for that specific individual in order for EMS to without CPR if they are called to a location. So people here post them in their homes and also carry copies of it when they are out and about. The law states that if EMS arrives, unless the document is provided or visible, EMS must perform CPR and advanced cardiac life support. This is regardless of what others there may say.
However, that document does not suffice as a living will if hospitalized. So in the event of hospitalization a living will must be produced.
It would be important to check state law to make sure you know what the laws are in your state.
One thing for people to think about if you live alone & have the papers required by your state is to put them close to your medications. EMS crews responding to a call with no other party present will look for medications the person is taking. So placing the required notice for EMS close to where your medications are is not a bad idea. And other family members, neighbors, etc should know where the appropriate document for your state can be located in your home.
As nurses here we joke that we would post them in every room, lol!
07-07-2017 10:16 PM
I'm a retired R.N.living in IL. I had a female patient who had "DO NOT RESUSCITATE" tattooed on her chest over the heart area. She must have signed some type of paper that the tattoo artist copied because her signature was tattooed next to the order. She told me she didn't want any questions to what her final wishes were. Don't know how legal this is in any state and in over 30 years of nursing, this is the only patient that I took care of, that went to this extent. I worked a pulmonary rehab floor in the hospital and the "frequent flyer's" would ask for the DNR papers to sign before we could do anything else for them-once on a respirator for them was enough.
07-07-2017 10:42 PM
@mustang66lady, we used to joke about having it tatooed on our chests too! Have to say though I haven't seen anyone with that kind of tatoo. lol
However in the state of Ky, EMS will not recognize that. It has to be "their" form as mandated by state law. One reason it is important for everyone to know what their state law requires.
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