Resuscitation or not? What would you want in this situation?!


Question: Resuscitation or not? What would you want in this situation?
If you were really ill and the doctors and nurses had been trying to treat you to the point that you were enduring uncomfortable interventions but still struggling to make any sort of real recovery. Would you want them to attempt resuscitation if you were to stop breathing and/or your heart stopped? The alternative would be that they allowed you to have a peaceful and dignified death rather than exposing your body and performing CPR and giving emergency (last resort) drugs. Is the level of intervention in critical care undigified enough...so they may as well carry on and attempt resus 'cause you never know? Would you rather live with any organ impairment (brain, heart, kidneys etc) because of the cardiac arrest, than die because no resus was attempted? What are your thoughts and experiences?

Answers:

in a situation like that i would choose not to be resuscitated.



DNR for me



The problem here is a decision cannot be made at that time. the patient would might not be considered able to make an informed decision. A DNR and even the wish to have a DNR needs to be discussed prior to the potential to need one. In addition a power of attorney needs to be in place which would be medical power of attorney not durable power of attorney so that someone can make this decision for you if the need arises. I might add that a DNR order needs to be prepared and signed by both patient or the power of attorney and the physician and that these are only valid for one year. You can also do this at time of admission if the patient doesn't present with what is considered a positive prognosis.

EMT Paramedic




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