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Make people aware that performing CPR on terminally ill people is not self-evidently a good idea. See "A 'natural death' may be preferable for many than endurin
by matkoniecz 3y ago
Make people aware that performing CPR on terminally ill people is not self-evidently a good idea. See "A 'natural death' may be preferable for many than enduring CPR" which is a title.
> She has written about performing chest compressions on a frail, elderly patient and feeling his ribs crack like twigs. She found herself wishing she were "holding his hand in his last dying moments, instead of crushing his sternum." She told me that she's had nightmares about it. She described noticing his eyes, which were open, while she was performing CPR. Blood spurted out of his endotracheal tube with each compression.
> "I felt like I was doing harm to him," she told me. "I felt like he deserved a more dignified death."
- boringg 3y agoAgree completely - in that instance the individual should have some kind of DNR bracelet. That burden falls on the communication of the individual to wear something indicating DNR or requires an assessment at the time by the first responder to decide it isn't worth trying to save the individual and provide comfort instead. I think that assessment by a first responder is a very difficult decision to put on someone.
- jdietrich 3y ago>Agree completely - in that instance the individual should have some kind of DNR bracelet. Even if you wear a DNR bracelet, there's a good chance that it'll be ignored. Bystanders often don't know to look for them and have no legal obligation to abide by them. Healthcare professionals routinely err on the side of caution if there is any doubt about the validity of a DNR order, in no small part because wrongful prolongation of life lawsuits are generally much less costly than wrongful death lawsuits. Advance healthcare planning is a much more complicated business than simply wearing a bracelet. We need a broad societal conversation about end-of-life care, not least because DNRs are often misunderstood by both patients and healthcare professionals.
- boringg 3y agoI'm offering a simple first step to a complex situation. I don't think the default option is let's not help older people and resort to comfort.
- Spivak 3y agoA fun new one I experienced recently when having a minor surgery was having to sign paperwork saying I consented to the doctor ignoring any DNRs, when I asked about it they said it was because if something happened to me while I was in their care it would make their numbers look bad. And oh man that's a no win if I've ever seen one.