To Code or Not to Code...
Please check out this post by ED nurse Kim, at Emergiblog, about having appropriate documentation available for elderly family members who prefer not to suffer the indignity and consequences of being resuscitated when their breathing or heart stops. I especially agree that everyone should understand the process of resuscitation, so that they know what they are signing up for.
I agree with Kim, if you actually WANT me to try to return you to the living, I will gladly give you my best effort. But if you don't, please make that very clear to all potential decision-makers. Resuscitation efforts have varying degrees of success, depending upon the length of time without a pulse and the amount of underlying disease. It is very sad to put someone through this process when we medical providers know that their chances of returning to a full and happy life are almost non-existent.
Take care,
Laurie
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: end of life, DNR, resuscitation, advance directive, health-and-wellness
I agree with Kim, if you actually WANT me to try to return you to the living, I will gladly give you my best effort. But if you don't, please make that very clear to all potential decision-makers. Resuscitation efforts have varying degrees of success, depending upon the length of time without a pulse and the amount of underlying disease. It is very sad to put someone through this process when we medical providers know that their chances of returning to a full and happy life are almost non-existent.
Take care,
Laurie
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: end of life, DNR, resuscitation, advance directive, health-and-wellness
Labels: advance directive, DNR, end of life, resuscitation
1 Comments:
I find there is a lot of confusion when it comes to DNR-CC. A lot of health care professionals take that to mean we do nothing in cases such as heart attack or pneumonia, or even a UTI. Some of the people I take care of in the Nursing Home setting still have a good quality of life even if they do have mutiple diagnosis. Should treatment be given for say a heart attack, stroke, or pneumonia when the client does not have an otherwise immediate life threatening condition. I say so, if the family and or client are agreeable and the issues are accurately explained to them.
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