DNR tattoos...

[MerdalRN]

My soon to be hubby came home the other day with DNR tattooed midline center chest in 1 inch high black block letters. (I am totally serious!)

How would that be interperted in the event (god forbid!) that something really happened to him? He does not have an actual DNR order, and we have talked about wishes in the event of something terrible, but would EMS have to comply with his tattoo??

Hubby is a fireman/paramedic so he knows the consequences/outcomes of CPR and all, and I think this had lots to do with his decision to tattoo this, but I wish he had told me he was doing it :icon_roll

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I love the idea of a bracelet, I am sure that would be a hge money making idea if anybody could get it sanctioned

[grace90, LPN, LVN]

I How many people have you seen, that are full codes, that would literally break apart with the brutality of pointless CPR?

I plan to get a Doc to sign and date my tattoo on my 50th birthday. I have had several agree to do this.

I am serious about my tattoo. If you code me, I had better have full function or not enough function to call a lawyer.

I like your plan of having a doc sign and date your tattoo. I plan to get a DNR tattoo on my arm or chest.

if I'm not all 'home' don't break my bones

[singleprego]

That would be tough for me. I suppose if I were first on the scene of a MVA and a shirt were torn and I saw a big "DO NOT RESCUSITATE" written on his/her chest, I would only honor it if it had the word "PLEASE," before it.....

[talaxandra]

It's not a legal document but it's a pretty clear statement of intent!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Having trouble picturing someone getting a "DNR" tattoo that large on one's torso without going through the short list of inquiries that would have told him it was NOTHING. Some ink on his chest that would NOT stop anyone from trying to jump-start him.

Three letters tattooed on someone's torso and he expects it to be taken as a legal directive?? I can see the family now: "Do Not Resusitate? NO! That stood for his ex-girlfriend's initials!!"

Live and learn. Get a real document, signed and dated. And then ask your fiance how he could do something like that without the courtesy of discussing it with you first!

[Jules A, MSN]

I suppose it *might* be helpful if, in smaller letters under DNR, his tattoo said:

"See legal paperwork, left upper drawer of desk in office on main floor of house on 1403 S. 18th St, XXXXX, NY. Note paperwork already on file at XXXX Hospital."

I can understand the sentiment, completely. I've often thought of that myself (tounge in cheek, mostly). I personally would NEVER honor a DNR tattoo, but if I assessed a pt and saw that on him, you can bet your sweet bum I would be triple checking all charts and with family members to look for his DNR paperwork, and if I couldn't find it I'd be getting with the social worker for a consult (ASAP if he was circling the drain).

Great idea to add info about where to find the paperwork. Even if it were legal with it on the chest their shirt isn't always ripped off before starting compressions, might be better on the chin, lol. I'm much more worried about being intubated rather than the often futile CPR anyway.

For the OP if he is truly serious about this, and I know a tatoo seems serious but he really needs the paper work or that in itself would speak volumes to me.