No categories found for this post.
What Is an Out-of-Hospital DNR Order?
A DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order is a physician’s order stating that hospital staff should not institute CPR if you experience a cardiac or respiratory arrest. It is generally reserved […]
A DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order is a physician’s order stating that hospital staff should not institute CPR if you experience a cardiac or respiratory arrest. It is generally reserved for terminally ill patients or those who are very elderly and medically frail, who would likely not survive a cardiac arrest. The order is written in alignment with your wishes when admitted to the hospital and applies to that single hospital stay. When you are discharged, the DNR order becomes null and void.
An out-of-hospital DNR order, on the other hand, is a durable order that is valid both in and out of the hospital unless or until it is revoked. It is written by a doctor when you both agree to allow a natural death in the event that you stop breathing or have a cardiac arrest. In states where such orders are recognized, first responders and emergency personnel cannot legally perform CPR if the order is presented to them.
With that being said, there is currently no national DNR law, and state requirements may differ significantly. According to the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management, if you wish to avoid CPR you should have both an advance healthcare directive (living will) and a durable power of attorney in place, as well as a DNR and/or a POLST. This may help ensure that your wishes are honored if you find yourself in the emergency room.
If you live in a state where out-of-hospital DNR orders are recognized, your doctor will write the order on a state-specified form. Most EMS personnel recommend that the order be taped in a highly visible location, such as a refrigerator or your bedroom door. The DNR should also be in your electronic health record, although hospital personnel may not take the time to look for it if you are taken to the emergency room in cardiac arrest. To avoid that scenario, wear a Medic-alert bracelet that states that a DNR order is on file.
Keep in mind, too, that neither a DNR bracelet or a DNR tattoo will be honored if a written physician’s order does not exist.
Sources
“Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Laws by State 2025”. World Population Review. https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/do-not-resuscitate-laws-by-states
