Question regarding demanding the removal of iv/tube/catheter asked by a non-nurse

Published Mar 6, 2011

2 Posts

Hey everyone, I hope it's not against the rules here to ask this. If it is could somebody please point me in the right direction?

I know that nurses need to protect themselves from lawsuits and whatnot so I figured you would be experts in this. I was wondering what would be the steps I would need to take to ensure that my wishes to have IVs/tubes/catheters removed be followed? I am trying to look for a legal way that will both ensure that my requests are followed and that the nurses and doctors are not punished if my own personal beliefs caused me harm.

Essentially, I don't want to be in a situation where I was in an accident of some sort, and when I came to and asked for something to be removed having my request be denied because of disorientation or medicine that had been given to me while I was unconscious.

What would be the best for me is having the option to leave in the stuff or take it out at the time of awaking, even if I am disorientated/on pain meds, but I imagine that be legally impossible (if not what would be the best course of action to take to do this?). If that isn't possible is there a way to inform the staff that on my awaking I wish for it all to be removed? If THAT is impossible, how would I inform the staff to not use any of these at all?

I know that medically this is not the best decision to make, but it is mine to make, and far better to plan it out now, then going through it when I was already at the hospital.