Do Not Resuscitate Order ("DNR")
($50 includes a revocation document within three years)
A Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order tells medical professionals not to perform CPR. This means that doctors, nurses and emergency medical personnel will not attempt emergency CPR if the patient's breathing or heartbeat stops.
CPR or Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation refers to the medical procedures used to restart a patient's heart and breathing when the patient suffers heart failure. CPR may involve simple efforts such as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and external chest compression. Advanced CPR also known as Advanced Life Support ("ALS") may involve electric shock, insertion of a tube to open the patient's airway, injection of medication into the heart and in extreme cases, open chest heart massage.
CPR, when successful, restores heartbeat and breathing and allows patients to resume their previous lifestyle. The success of CPR depends on the patient's overall medical condition. Age alone does not determine whether CPR will be successful, although illnesses and frailties that go along with age often make CPR less successful.
When patients are seriously ill or terminally ill, CPR may not work or may only partially work, leaving the patient brain-damaged or in a worse medical state than before the heart stopped. In these cases, some patients prefer to be cared for without aggressive efforts at resuscitation upon their death
A DNR Order is only a decision about CPR and does not relate to any other treatment. For decisions related to other decisions, one should obtain both a Health Care Proxy and a Living Will. A Health Care Proxy is basically a Medical Power of Attorney and appoints an agent also called the Health Care Proxy to make decisions regarding the health care of the grantor if the grantor is otherwise unable. A Living Will is a document executed by someone to declare what their wishes are. It can be used by the health care provider or the health care proxy to have a "clear and convincing" idea as to what your wishes are.
These two documents overlap and form the most effective protection to ensure your wishes are met. A Healh Care Proxy gives your power to make decisions to someone with whom you have already (assumedly) spoken about regarding your wishes. The Living Will provides the Proxy with a more firm direction and if a question arises that is outside the scope of the Living Will, the Health Care Provider or Health Care Proxy can then make an informed decision taking into account the Living Will, Health Care Proxy and the conversations.