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To everyone considering a "NO CODE" tattoo after reading this story: Don't. If you're really that serious about not wanting to be resuscitated under any circums

by Cass 15y ago

To everyone considering a "NO CODE" tattoo after reading this story: Don't. If you're really that serious about not wanting to be resuscitated under any circumstances, wear some kind of bracelet or necklace with those words on it, and, just as importantly, a recent date, and contact info for a person who knows your exact wishes. Make sure to update the date regularly. Medicine changes, and so do your life circumstances. If you're presenting an EMT with a ten-year-old, faded tattoo, you're placing them in an awkward position due to the lack of context. Is this a decision you made ten years ago and got stuck with, or are these your current wishes? They might end up disregarding your wishes just to be safe. A bracelet with a recent date will be much less ambiguous. And remember, with all medical decisions, you want the ability to change your mind when medical advances are made or your circumstances change. Tattoo removal sucks.

janzer 15y ago
Not to mention that at least where I'm from a tattoo will not and cannot be accepted by EMS personnel as a valid order. Here is the relevant part from our Medical Control treatment protocols on what can be accepted as a valid do not resuscitate order: "Patient is wearing a do-not-resuscitate identification bracelet which is clearly imprinted wit the words “Do-Not-Resuscitate Order”, name and address of declarant, and the name and telephone number of declarant’s attending physician, if any OR The EMS provider is provided with a do-not-resuscitate order from the patient. Such an order form shall be in substantially the form outlined in Annex 1 or 2 and shall be dated and signed by all parties." Anything else and we are required to follow all the regular resuscitation efforts.
- vacri 15y ago
  How bizarre that they'll accept 'do not resuscitate' on jewellry, but not tattooed across the chest. "Do we think he really meant it? Nah, he just got the tattoo - if he really meant it, he'd be wearing one of those constantly annoying bracelets"
  - mfringel 15y ago
    What if "NO CODE" is the name of a band? You're asking someone to make a quick life-or-death decision on ambiguous data when there is a clearly known and socially agreed upon way to express the sentiment. Having it on an annoying bracelet that is explicitly used to signal medical intent sounds pretty good to me.
    - vacri 15y ago
      So what if "NO CODE" is the name of a band? I'm talking about "Do not resuscitate" - and if you tattoo that on your chest because it's a cool band name, you're an utter fuckwit. 'No Code' is stupid anyway because not everywhere uses that jargon, while 'do not rescuscitate' is clear, plain English. As for the bracelet, I hate jewellery and anything from my elbows down catches on anything that I'm working on with my hands, and I'm not alone - and unlike the tattoo which is only 'present' at parts of the day, a bracelet is always 'present'. Not to mention that there's all sorts of medical accoutrements that infirm people are supposed to carry with them but don't because they're annoying (prime example being the 'help, I've fallen' pagers).
      - MrMatters 15y ago
        Of course, "do not resuscitate" across the chest is pretty clear of your intentions when you get it. But I don't think you realize how hard it can be to have that power over someone's life and make that call. I think the point about old tattoos is much more relevant than a band named that; if there are former neo-nazis with ultra racist/symbolic tattoos that regret them, there could be people that just got a "Do Not Resuscitate" tattoo because they thought it was hardcore when they were younger but now regret it. I know this isn't always the case but when you're deciding whether or not to give someone another shot at life, or to let them die, a RECENT bracelet would be more definitive with all the thoughts racing through your head. Also, if getting a tattoo is less annoying than wearing a bracelet you probably have some of them already and it can become even less clear.
        vacri 15y ago
hncommenter13 15y ago
This was drilled into our heads in EMT school--without a valid DNR per protocols, we continue CPR. The exact rules vary from county to county and from state to state, but the point is to ensure that the DNR is well and truly valid before denying potentially lifesaving care to a patient (and to legally protect the first responders, who can lose their license/possibly go to jail for recklessly failing to provide appropriate care). You can read San Francisco's EMS protocol for DNRs--it's more complicated than just saying (or wearing) "NO CODE." http://www.sfdem.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=767 http://www.sfdem.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=76... (warning: pdf) Note that the bracelet/necklace frequently has a phone # that the first responders can call to verify the DNR.

by Cass 15y ago

janzer 15y ago

Not to mention that at least where I'm from a tattoo will not and cannot be accepted by EMS personnel as a valid order. Here is the relevant part from our Medical Control treatment protocols on what can be accepted as a valid do not resuscitate order: "Patient is wearing a do-not-resuscitate identification bracelet which is clearly imprinted wit the words “Do-Not-Resuscitate Order”, name and address of declarant, and the name and telephone number of declarant’s attending physician, if any OR The EMS provider is provided with a do-not-resuscitate order from the patient. Such an order form shall be in substantially the form outlined in Annex 1 or 2 and shall be dated and signed by all parties." Anything else and we are required to follow all the regular resuscitation efforts.

vacri 15y ago
How bizarre that they'll accept 'do not resuscitate' on jewellry, but not tattooed across the chest. "Do we think he really meant it? Nah, he just got the tattoo - if he really meant it, he'd be wearing one of those constantly annoying bracelets"
- mfringel 15y ago
  What if "NO CODE" is the name of a band? You're asking someone to make a quick life-or-death decision on ambiguous data when there is a clearly known and socially agreed upon way to express the sentiment. Having it on an annoying bracelet that is explicitly used to signal medical intent sounds pretty good to me.
  - vacri 15y ago
    So what if "NO CODE" is the name of a band? I'm talking about "Do not resuscitate" - and if you tattoo that on your chest because it's a cool band name, you're an utter fuckwit. 'No Code' is stupid anyway because not everywhere uses that jargon, while 'do not rescuscitate' is clear, plain English. As for the bracelet, I hate jewellery and anything from my elbows down catches on anything that I'm working on with my hands, and I'm not alone - and unlike the tattoo which is only 'present' at parts of the day, a bracelet is always 'present'. Not to mention that there's all sorts of medical accoutrements that infirm people are supposed to carry with them but don't because they're annoying (prime example being the 'help, I've fallen' pagers).
    - MrMatters 15y ago
      Of course, "do not resuscitate" across the chest is pretty clear of your intentions when you get it. But I don't think you realize how hard it can be to have that power over someone's life and make that call. I think the point about old tattoos is much more relevant than a band named that; if there are former neo-nazis with ultra racist/symbolic tattoos that regret them, there could be people that just got a "Do Not Resuscitate" tattoo because they thought it was hardcore when they were younger but now regret it. I know this isn't always the case but when you're deciding whether or not to give someone another shot at life, or to let them die, a RECENT bracelet would be more definitive with all the thoughts racing through your head. Also, if getting a tattoo is less annoying than wearing a bracelet you probably have some of them already and it can become even less clear.
      - vacri 15y ago

hncommenter13 15y ago

This was drilled into our heads in EMT school--without a valid DNR per protocols, we continue CPR. The exact rules vary from county to county and from state to state, but the point is to ensure that the DNR is well and truly valid before denying potentially lifesaving care to a patient (and to legally protect the first responders, who can lose their license/possibly go to jail for recklessly failing to provide appropriate care). You can read San Francisco's EMS protocol for DNRs--it's more complicated than just saying (or wearing) "NO CODE." http://www.sfdem.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=767 http://www.sfdem.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=76... (warning: pdf) Note that the bracelet/necklace frequently has a phone # that the first responders can call to verify the DNR.