Patients have a legal right to consent to, or refuse, recommended medical procedures, including resuscitative efforts. These patients require thoughtful consideration at critical times. The decision to honor, or not to honor a “Do Not Resuscitate” request must be made quickly and accurately.
If a current “Do Not Resuscitate” form can be quickly produced and determined to be valid, providers may withhold life-saving or resuscitative procedures. A valid “Do Not Resuscitate” order DOES NOT mean the patient should not receive palliative treatment or a caring attitude from EMS providers.
A DNR order SHOULD NOT be honored and resuscitative efforts should be initiated in the following circumstances:
The patient or person who executed the order destroys the form
The patient or person who executed the order directs someone to destroy the form
The patient or person who executed the order tells EMS providers or attending physician that it is his/her intent to revoke the order
The patient is known to be pregnant
In any questionable situation regarding a DNR order, contact OLMC for assistance.