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'Do Not Resusciate' orders
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
My mother has chosen this...if she has a heart attack or something similar, she doesn't even want to be taken to the hospital, much less cared for by doctors.
I believe people should have a right to hold DNR orders as well as assisted suicide, although I am very, very selfish when it comes to my mother. I have begged and pleaded with her several times to get her to change her mind.
If something ever does happen to my mother, it will be the hardest thing I ever have to do to follow her wishes and let her die knowing that doctors could possibly save her.
What are your opinions on DNR orders?
I believe people should have a right to hold DNR orders as well as assisted suicide, although I am very, very selfish when it comes to my mother. I have begged and pleaded with her several times to get her to change her mind.
If something ever does happen to my mother, it will be the hardest thing I ever have to do to follow her wishes and let her die knowing that doctors could possibly save her.
What are your opinions on DNR orders?
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Do you think you would be able to do it?, i know itselfish but i couldn't just leave my mother in a chair having a heart attack and not call an ambulance. Afterwards she may thank me, and be glad that she is still alive or she could hate me for it. Its a no win situtaion
But if she has said that she does not want to be resuscitated and you ignored her wishes you'd think she'd be unhappy rather than glad. If I held a DNR order which someone ignored I don't think I'd be too happy.
But i suppose its thier life and you have to rspect thier wishes.
Therefore, are DNR orders not directly in contradiction to that oath?
As for not calling the emergency services... that's harder to answer. If my Mum was sitting there, there is no way on earth I would not do everything in my power to save her. Her wishes would be overruled. Angry she may be, but she'd have to be alive to be angry. And that, I think, is how I'd rationalise it.
The doctors aren't directly harming the patient in DNR cases, simply not treating them. In fact, it could be argued that they would be doing harm to the patient by directly contradicting their own explicit wishes.
Same goes for me...
Exactly how I feel.
Personally I'd rather be dead than a vegetable, only able think but not communicate. In that instance I would want to institute a DNR instruction.
As for doctors following the orders, unlike Donor Cards, "living wills" have a legal basis and the doctor could be sued for not following one. I would also dispute that they enforce them without the patients knowledge - in fact one of the questions asked when an elderly patients is admitted is related to their views on DNR...
Seeing people slowly loose their independance and self dignity.
Then seeing it happen to my mother (cancer)
I can understand why
But again, some people have come back from the brink and made full recoveries.
I know of one woman who considered a DNR order when she was younger (MS, prognosis not good), had a heart attack. 1 marriage, 1 kid, 20 years later she is rather glad of her second chance.
Like all Judgement calls its a tricky one to call. Where does one draw the line.
You could call the emergency services, but they should not do anything if there is a DNR order in place.
What gives anyone else the right to decide what to do, when the person in question has already made that decision? To not respect their wishes is incredibly selfish.