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I usually don't comment on others' answers. Flowgo, I'll make an exception. To those who have thoughtfully executed DNRs on their own behalf, helped their loved ones execute them and helped them be appropriately placed -- know that Flowgo is in a distinct minority. DNRs are our right and the right of our loved ones...opinions of others to the contrary notwithstanding.
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Technical No but there have been cases of where "life sustaining" measures have been taken when the patient had a DNR on file with there doctor. They most common I have heard is when the emergency took place the actual treating medical personnel did not have or were not aware of the DNR (a communication breakdown). Or a family member present at the time made the choice. Of course there are many different reasons and whys and the aws are different from state to state. I strongly recommend you speak with a lawyer (I am not one!)
Just recently I helped my in-laws with all their paperwork. I had numerous copies of the advance directive (which has the DNR) and made sure every doctor that treats my in-laws has a copy, he has a copy and I do.

Hope this helps. ?
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When I took over being the main caregiver for mom, I made sure that I had several copies of her DNR. When I called the ambulance (911), I gave the medics 1 copy. When I got to the hospital ER, I gave them another copy. When I did this, the ER did not give mom IV, nor her nutrient drink the whole day she was in the ER.

I have read here on AC that some hospitals are no longer honoring the DNR. There is Another Form that supercedes the DNR in these cases. I believe it's called POLST ? So, it may be best to just have Both forms with you in case the hospital does not honor DNR but do with the Polst.

POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a form that states what kind of medical treatment patients want toward the end of their lives...
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Before I switched hospitals for my husband I called and asked the administrator if they honored DNR. I was told that all hospitals in this state must honor it. I've read that in GA the hospital must honor it and that individual health professionals who had objections to DNR must tell their supervisor and be reassigned off the case. I don't know how much it varies from state to state.
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Everyone should have both a Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) and Comfort Care DNR Verification
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Much safer to have no dnr
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DNR means do not resuscitate. It does not mean don't give any care. You can only be resuscitated if you have clinically died, not if you are still alive.
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flowgo, a DNR does not affect any treatment other than that which would require intubation or CPR. Patients who are DNR can continue to get chemotherapy, antibiotics, dialysis, or any other appropriate treatments.

If one is seriously ill, the heart will stop for a reason... it's time to let nature take its course.
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That is how it is supposed to be, but that is not always how it is as I have found out the hard way. There is so much neglect and abuse in the medical field especially as soon as they find out there is a dnr. That is why I say they are not safe. People think they can just sue so they are protected, but the only time you can sue is if the patient is still alive and then you have one year (at least in our state) to sue and you get a medical fund put aside to take care of the mistake that medical staff did.It has obvious and or bad . So I would not count on the doctors and staff behaving because patients are protected and medical staff is afraid of getting sued.That never crosses their mind. It has to be very obvious like a sponge left in that caused damage then you may get covered to take care of the infection.Medical staff are safe no matter what they want to do. They would have to be a serial killer and then it still takes years to get caught.They are very well protected, but there is no protection for the patients.PATIENTS ARE NOT PROTECTED.MEDICAL STAFF DO AS THEY PLEASE.We need to change this cause the only medical staff doing a good job would be the ones who have good morals and are decent people and want to do right by people.
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DaveIFM My dad and mom had all that in place because they were very well organized. It did not help my mom at all medical staff just did what ever they wanted to they did not care if they were abusing her or neglecting her everything was fine because she had a dnr in place. The dnr even got her life taken away even though she was in good health. That is why I say no to dnrs and legalizing euthanasia. It is already to easy for medical staff to take lives why make it easier.
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