If a patients has a DNR (do-not-resuscitate) order, can it be overridden? The patient's wishes should be carried out, but if a family member disagrees with the order can the order be terminated? Isn't this a legal wish that should be followed or should family members be able to terminate this order because they feel the patient can be saved? Can a family member do this just by saying terminate the order?
2007-01-22 14:24:24 · 12 answers · asked by renee a 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Yes the patient's family can override a DNR. I think it's horrible but, I have seen families do it. If the patient is no longer competent to make the decision it falls to the next of kin or if they have a durable power of attorney.
2007-01-22 16:48:55 · answer #1 · answered by Kat_RN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason there is a DNR is so that it cannot be overridden, even by family members. Sometimes the family members may feel that the patient should be saved but it may not be the patients wishes.
2007-01-22 14:49:51 · answer #2 · answered by inquirygirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a DNR is decided upon by the patient ONLY. no family member may cancel the DNR. the family member may discuss it with the patient but cancel the order? Nope. and it is afterall, the patient's life not yours.
let the patient rest with his/her decision and leave the patient alone. the patient needs your support now as he/she will be leaving soon enough and wouldn't it be wonderful to see your smiling face instead of a scowling one. be sure to let the patient know about your feelings toward him/her, not your feelings about this or that or their decison for a DNR. don't you think leaving their family is hard enough? make his/her passing an easy exit.
2007-01-23 04:07:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"DNR" is basically "glorified suicide". You see this generally with alot of senior citizens who have a prehistoric, ignorant, or misguided thought process due to being punch-drunk from all the discomfort that they've been through OR if they've seen other people go through something similiar either on TV or in real life. Many "medical professionals" side with it for the unfortunate reason that whether you're a Hospital Administrator or a 9/hr. CNA.. you see people suffer and die every moment of the day, after it happens a few times.. you have the choice of becoming callous (non-feeling) and treating them all as statistics...OR door #2 is you stay a caring person and eventually the job destroys you mentally. Life is a gift (I'll say it again) LIFE *IS A GIFT*... all true efforts and ambitions to preserve it should be attempted.
2016-10-02 14:57:17 · answer #4 · answered by Pete 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the patient has a terminal illness i dont know you must think of the patient and how they feel are they in pain what is wrong with them and what it would do to the family to have to look at them living on machines for years at a time a doctor cant tell if they are in pain or not and the patient cant talk i really cant tell you what to do but i know what i would do i would grant there last wish and let them go to be with there loved ones i am sorry
2007-01-22 23:20:01 · answer #5 · answered by mountainchowpurple 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
only the patient or the medical power of attorney can make the decisions when it comes to a DNR call. the family members dont have the medical knowledge that allows them to make that decision, their emotions almost always get in the way of rational judgement
2007-01-22 14:30:20 · answer #6 · answered by J-BIRD 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To ensure a DNR, it is best to have an Advance Directive. This spells it out, and is a legal document by an attorney. Without that, it can be hard, because there is no legal document.
Sometimes when there isn't a legal document, and it is verbal discussions, that is when it can get really difficult.
2007-01-22 14:31:23 · answer #7 · answered by kallmetigger 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am sure there is some legal loophole out there , but a dnr is that persons wishes . we all deserve to make choices about our own care and not be forced to live in a condition we choose not to. we as family members arent always happy , but we would want to be respected just as our loved ones do .
2007-01-22 17:20:45 · answer #8 · answered by sindi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a generic practitioner signed my mom s DNR, and that i had ability of lawyer over my mom s medical themes. He insisted that I signal after purely in the destiny interior the health midsection. at the same time as my mom exceeded, I requested her medical archives and he had signed the DNR style on the day that I had refused. This got here about at Virtua health midsection Voorhees, NJ. Dr. John Birmingham signed the fashion and that i have a replica of it.
2016-10-15 23:27:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it cannot be overridden. Its the Patients wishes.Nobody can say otherwise. If they can prove the patient was incompentent. Then who ever has power of att. can stop it.
2007-01-22 14:36:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋