Remeber343
Forum Lieutenant
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I have been thinking about this for a little bit, and our shift had a discussion about it the other day. Hypothetical, of course, lets say you are toned to a 70 y/o not breathing found by relatives. I'm sure everyone here is familiar with DNR orders or Advanced Directives. Lets say that the above patient has signed/legal DNR/AD and wishes to not be resuscitated.
I have a few different scenarios for this:
1) You arrive, patient has signed DNR orders, but the family there is frantically screaming and asking you to do everything you can for the patient. It was an unwittnessed arrest, patient was just found. You tell the family you wish to respect the deceased wishes, and you deny any resuscitation attempts. The family become agitated and start to get aggressive.
1a) You arrive, the patient was a witnessed arrested. Same as above, signed DNRs but the family is frantic and becomes agitated and aggressive towards you and your partner.
2) Witnessed arrest, before the patient went into arrest, the family state he said "Don't let me die, I don't want to die yet". Pt has signed DNR.
I'm just seeing what anyone eles opinions/thoughts are on these. I find it somewhat difficult at times. Its a legal document, and you have to respect the patients wishes.
I have a few different scenarios for this:
1) You arrive, patient has signed DNR orders, but the family there is frantically screaming and asking you to do everything you can for the patient. It was an unwittnessed arrest, patient was just found. You tell the family you wish to respect the deceased wishes, and you deny any resuscitation attempts. The family become agitated and start to get aggressive.
1a) You arrive, the patient was a witnessed arrested. Same as above, signed DNRs but the family is frantic and becomes agitated and aggressive towards you and your partner.
2) Witnessed arrest, before the patient went into arrest, the family state he said "Don't let me die, I don't want to die yet". Pt has signed DNR.
I'm just seeing what anyone eles opinions/thoughts are on these. I find it somewhat difficult at times. Its a legal document, and you have to respect the patients wishes.