OT : Anyone have any dealing with a DNR ??

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ultimately do what you think he/she would want. there is no right or wrong answer, but to be honest, there are a lot of tools in medicine to keep someone alive. however, it is not pain free and is taxing on both the patient and their families.

that being said, the road to recovery from whatever brought her to the hospital will be a long one.
if there are permanent deficits or if they are likely to be bedbound, is that a life they would want to live? because in the scenario they make it out, they are the ones who will have to live with it.

furthermore, especially with younger people, the road to recovery may require extensive rehab and can take up to years. it is important if he/she were to live through this that they have the proper family support system. otherwise it will be all for nothing, and they will end up in the icu again due to medical complications from chronic medical conditions and you may face a similar situation again.

DNR means they won't attempt to resuscitate her if her heart stops beating via CPR and defibrillation.
DNI means they won't attempt to intubate her and put her on a ventilator if she stops breathing.
It doesn't really make sense to pick DNR or DNI only except for rare situations. Typically people who need CPR and shocks also need to be intubated. DNR only or DNI only has a poor prognosis built into it, and if you want the best outcomes, it doesn't make sense to only half ass it.

If you pick DNR/DNI, it does not mean the doctors are not trying to do all that is best for the patient. If they need fluid, antibiotics, etc, they will get everything. The overall management doesn't really change. The only real exception is for people with terminal illness and poor prognosis, they will prioritize treating pain or difficulty breathing when all other measures fail, even though the treatment for pain may indirectly put them at risk for respiratory failure and subsequent death and they know they cannot intubate. Some times people are in a checkmate position in respiratory distress despite antibiotics and steroids and the only option left is to make them comfortable. Doctors won't give pain meds as a priority to hasten someone's death if there is an alternative solution to try first.
DNR/DNI is an option that is offered basically to prevent someone from undergoing traumatic treatment that would likely yield a poor result. CPR breaks ribs, and for instance, if you came into the hospital with respiratory failure and a known chronic lung condition, good luck trying to get off of the ventilator with bad lungs AND recovering from broken ribs at the same time.
 

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Long story short, have a relative in the hospital that's in bad shape

Lucky me, I am the health care POA
Just went to the funeral yesterday for same. She was 46 and had very rare illness attack her brain. Went downhill very fast. Difficult for sure. You were chosen because you are trusted with a difficult task. Consult with doctors/hospice. They will help.
 
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you're the right person to do this.

if your niece is unable to communicate to the doctors whether or not something should or shouldn't be done, you can question the doctors as to why they want to do what they want to do and if it will make things better or worse. then make the call. it's as simple as that.

no doctor is going to make you choose between a right or wrong answer, so all you have to do is ask the questions, understand what may or may not happen and let the doctors know.

any friends or relatives that need to know what is happening or what happened, just tell them the basics, don't tell them it was you that made decision(s). just "a" happened so the doctors did "b" to help but it didn't work, or "a" happened and there wasn't anything they could do. NOT: "a" happened and I told the doctors not to do "b" then people start talking... well you know how people get.

when I've faced things like this I like to think about that scene from the godfather where johnny fontane is asking Don Vito for help, crying "what do I do, what do I do"... Godfather "You can ACT LIKE A MAN!" not saying you're crying or anything, I just like that quote when I'm faced with important tasks and feeling uneasy... somehow that makes me cowboy up.

good luck you got this

Thanks Buddy

Yes have been asking plenty of questions over the pass week.
Doctors have been good answering them all.

You're right about the Doctors, I asked one what should I do, and they said before I could even finish what I was asking, that it's up to me
whatever I think is best for her.

also had a couple of relatives tell me what I SHOULD do, but I'm just taking it all in and guess I will decide whats best.
they're pretty much useless ..

Thanks again
 
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Sorry to hear this Mike...

Had to do the same thing almost 10yrs ago...

but...

I was told....""PLEASE DON'T LET ME DOWN""

I CRY AS I TYPE THIS....

as this was my FATHER....

I did what he asked...

see ya someday DAD...

see you @ the bar and/or the tables someday....

BE STRONG MIKE...YOU WERE PICKED...

GREAT HONOR...TRUST ME....

C.P.

Thanks Bud
 
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ultimately do what you think he/she would want. there is no right or wrong answer, but to be honest, there are a lot of tools in medicine to keep someone alive. however, it is not pain free and is taxing on both the patient and their families.

that being said, the road to recovery from whatever brought her to the hospital will be a long one.
if there are permanent deficits or if they are likely to be bedbound, is that a life they would want to live? because in the scenario they make it out, they are the ones who will have to live with it.

furthermore, especially with younger people, the road to recovery may require extensive rehab and can take up to years. it is important if he/she were to live through this that they have the proper family support system. otherwise it will be all for nothing, and they will end up in the icu again due to medical complications from chronic medical conditions and you may face a similar situation again.

DNR means they won't attempt to resuscitate her if her heart stops beating via CPR and defibrillation.
DNI means they won't attempt to intubate her and put her on a ventilator if she stops breathing.
It doesn't really make sense to pick DNR or DNI only except for rare situations. Typically people who need CPR and shocks also need to be intubated. DNR only or DNI only has a poor prognosis built into it, and if you want the best outcomes, it doesn't make sense to only half ass it.

If you pick DNR/DNI, it does not mean the doctors are not trying to do all that is best for the patient. If they need fluid, antibiotics, etc, they will get everything. The overall management doesn't really change. The only real exception is for people with terminal illness and poor prognosis, they will prioritize treating pain or difficulty breathing when all other measures fail, even though the treatment for pain may indirectly put them at risk for respiratory failure and subsequent death and they know they cannot intubate. Some times people are in a checkmate position in respiratory distress despite antibiotics and steroids and the only option left is to make them comfortable. Doctors won't give pain meds as a priority to hasten someone's death if there is an alternative solution to try first.
DNR/DNI is an option that is offered basically to prevent someone from undergoing traumatic treatment that would likely yield a poor result. CPR breaks ribs, and for instance, if you came into the hospital with respiratory failure and a known chronic lung condition, good luck trying to get off of the ventilator with bad lungs AND recovering from broken ribs at the same time.

Good insight, Thank you

so far no wrong moves
 

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Yes this is an honor BAS, you were chosen because of your honorable ways.

Good luck and please update us on the outcome sir.


HaHa what the fuck is this? You basically tried to publicly shame him across many boards,including this one and now you say he is honorable? You have a screw loose in that fucked up head you have...More details to follow in case this stupid fucker decides to respond...

And to BAS is this your niece in Cornelius?
 

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