Signed State DNR form no good????

Published

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH I just got home from work and I am furious. I had a guy who was AAOX3 and doing great up until he stroked out this morning. I got report that he stroked out at the nursing home. Came to us with a fully executed State DNR form from the DOH. The admitting doc refused to write DNR because she is not the patient's primary care doc and must speak to the family first............???? What's the point of a DNR signed by a fully competent individual and his own doc??? Better yet, they sent him to ICU with full code status while we had vent patients in holding in the ER. I called the admitting doc back trying to downgrade him and get the DNR activated.......... nope. I am not doing anything til I talk to the family. No family available. He wasn't vented, not TPA'd nothing. ICU full code. How can we say make sure you fill out your forms and make sure they go to the ER with you if we aren't honoring them. Disgusting. Thank you for listening.

Specializes in Med/Surg/Bariatrics.
I wonder where they get the rationale for this, what court case do they refer to where it allows a hospital to override a patient's wishes?

I am not sure, I just know that it's policy. And they may be DNR this visit but full code the next visit. I would think it should follow them on all admissions but it does not and sometimes we are found running around the last minute trying to reach doctors and family.

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.
I wonder where they get the rationale for this, what court case do they refer to where it allows a hospital to override a patient's wishes?

They refer to absence of caselaw- there has never been a violation of civil-liberties/violation of person suit brought on behalf of a coded individual (that I am aware of). A wrongful death suit by the family is profoundly damaging to a facility's PR and finances. Since there is no definitive decision r/pain and suffering by some dysfunctional family member, the facility errs on the side of caution.

Make the world a better place: DON'T CODE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS!:cool:

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