[j. earl carter]

RE: DNR

I believe the DNR document is enormously beneficial to nursing homes (from a liability perspective) and detrimental to patients. There is no need for a DNR order. Your mom is right there (or just a phone call away). She can make that decision at any time, why do it now?

Please tell your mom she made the right choice.

[Osage Orange]

I happen to be in the health care business.....I am a DNR...and my family knows this.

DNR does NOT mean do not treat.

Many people think that DNR means...don't treat. That is wrong

DNR means....you don't won't to be intubated..and compression's...done on you. Period.

When it comes to that point....patients without the proper paperwork...cannot make that decision.

I've seen patients without life ending legal paperwork...end up lingering...suffering...on life support. Horribly living their last days...cruelly..IMO, with no hope of survival.

FWIW-

[gas_dr]

With all due respect your response is incredibly dangerous and damaging to people struggling with this decision. If you read what was said, the patient himself said he wanted to be DNR. In modern medicine the patient has the autonomous right to determine his outcome. DNR does not mean do not care nor do not treat. Not means do not do CPR. Some of the comments herein are astounding. How can you possibly say that the wife could make a decision at anytime. This is callous and exposes someone who loves this patient to work agains the wishes of the patient and in fact play God. The most horrendous decision a family ever makes is how to continue care. This can't be made at any moment like you say. It should have the input of the patient being cared for. Likewise we are not government shills and operatives of the insurance company. We are professionals who work every day to provide the very best care for our patients independent of payment. Many people don't understand the complex payment situation but as a doctor I have never once stopped to consider what I am getting paid as I make decisions of moving patients to various levels of care.

As for califreak I pray for you and your road ahead. Sometimes strokes continue to evolve and often there are complications. I can't comment if something was missed or not as I was not there. But I pray for your relative and the emotional distress that comes with this. Pray God give you and yours wisdom, healing and peace and His will be done

In the not to distant part of this thread it is likely that morgana and her army will weigh in. Morgana does incredible work for defending innocent life in the womb that can't speak. I pray for her ministry there. But she often gives advice that is flat out wrong and lays guilt on people she thinks is incorrect. Please don't feel bad or guilty. Many people will tell you of glimmers of hope that aren't there and then engages in name calling. Califreak... I am a board certified critical care physician. If you have any questions freepmail me and I am happy to answer privately. Abundant blessings to you.

[Califreak]

That’s what we figured, that it was too soon to say DNR.

Mom felt like she could change her mind if things got really bad. I wasn’t about to push her one way or another.