We all have to die

[JC316]

While it is on the family somewhat, as a patient just sign a DNR. My grandma did that, she didn't want to be brought back. I despise the hospital, when I am in, the only thing I want is to get out. I will eat a bullet before living in one till I die.

[Nash B.]

Cliffs notes?

People are assholes, doctors and nurses don't get enough respect for their effort, knowledge, and advice, and nursing homes are shitholes.

[sig239]

Its sad but true, I have told every one and signed every paper I should that if some thing happens to me do not do that shit to me, if they do I told them I will haunt them for the rest of there life.
My wife was a administrator at a nursing home and the things people do to there ""loved"" one is sad. She has seen it go both ways some will do nothing hoping they die.
She had to quit because it was getting to her, she would let her self get attached to them, I dint know how many nites I would come home to her crying over what was going on there.

[GhostTX]

People want to keep their family member here for their own happiness. Often at the expense of their family member. They revoke their family's DNR because they are not willing to let go. It is simple greed. It becomes about them, not the patient.

That is something other than greed.

How does a family revoke a DNR order?

I wouldn't say greed, but selfishness. They don't want XXX to die 'cause they can't bear the thought of them going.

[91GriggsGT]

Dealt with this same exact shit working EMS. You show up to a full blown cardiac arrest and the family wants you to do everything.....although the patient has a DNR. Unfortunately, on-scene is not the place to get into a pissing match with these people so you do some minimal things, get in the ambulance and head to the hospital and inform them of what is going on.

Seen this too many times to count. I think a lot is the family goes into a panic. Even though they knew this day would come, nobody is ever really prepared for it. Some family can be reasoned with when all the facts are laid out, some can't. It is a mixed bag. It does suck because in the back of your mind you KNOW this person will not make it, and if they do, it will only be the body living and not the brain.

My family and I have all had talks about this. I have seen too much shit to even have the THOUGHT of someone keeping me on life support or in a vegetative state. LET ME GO!!!

[01vnms4v]

I know how you feel. Some people actually believe that one day they will get 100% better no matter how much pain the person is in, and age doesn't matter.

Good thing is my dad, mom, and me all have "DNR" and "No life support" of and kind written on or wills. If its time to go so be it.

If we did, I for one would be pissed if someone in my family kept me alive in a hospital bed years on end thinking one day I would get better. That is if I would be able to know that was happening.

[threefortytwo]

People are assholes, doctors and nurses don't get enough respect for their effort, knowledge, and advice, and nursing homes are shitholes.

Best cliff's notes yet.

[Strychnine]

[kingjason]

Absolutely just dealt with this two days ago. Family was never ever around, but god damn it they wanted the hospital to do everything they could to keep this man alive. He was 96 and looked really really bad when I saw him. I made the comment to my friend who was the only one that ever did anything for him that wow he looked like a skeleton and I don't ever want to be in that shape. I don't know if my comment helped him make the decision he had been debating over for a while on the DNR but he made it. He knows there are many family members that will vilify him for this but screw them. Where the hell were they when he was taking car of this man the last 10 years. My wife knows my wishes very well.

[davbrucas]

Agreed...

It is greed when the family wants the patient alive solely to collect the social security check the patient receives every month. Happens all the time.

[Treasure Chest]

This is when it's important to have an Advance Healthcare Directive on file with everyone who touches a patient's medical file; the primary health care provider, the hospitals the patient may be admitted to, the family, ect, AND register it through the national living will registry. It's difficult to hide your wishes or allow your family to crawfish on them if its in the national registry.

[DON SVO]

Agreed...

It is greed when the family wants the patient alive solely to collect the social security check the patient receives every month. Happens all the time.

That one lady in the news that lived with her friend, he died and she kept his corpse in a rocking chair for a year and a half... she was depositing his SS and pension checks and withdrawing the funds.

[Jewmadbro?]

Dealt with this same exact shit working EMS. You show up to a full blown cardiac arrest and the family wants you to do everything.....although the patient has a DNR. Unfortunately, on-scene is not the place to get into a pissing match with these people so you do some minimal things, get in the ambulance and head to the hospital and inform them of what is going on.

Seen this too many times to count. I think a lot is the family goes into a panic. Even though they knew this day would come, nobody is ever really prepared for it. Some family can be reasoned with when all the facts are laid out, some can't. It is a mixed bag. It does suck because in the back of your mind you KNOW this person will not make it, and if they do, it will only be the body living and not the brain.

My family and I have all had talks about this. I have seen too much shit to even have the THOUGHT of someone keeping me on life support or in a vegetative state. LET ME GO!!!

Ohhh boy not looking forward to that....

[91GriggsGT]

Ohhh boy not looking forward to that....

If you are going into EMS, you WILL deal with it. Here is a nickle's worth of free advice....If or should I say WHEN you run into this, depending on your protocols, I would start working the patient, get them into the back of the ambulance and as cold as it sounds, avoid taking ANY of the offending family. Once you start rolling, get on the phone / radio with the receiving hospital and talk to the doc and let them know. More than likely, they will have you stop efforts until you reach the hospital, than maybe minimal when they are in the ER.

DO NOT get into it with family and argue on scene. Even if they have papers stating Advanced Directives, DNR, etc, you show up on scene and the family has gone ape shit and is yelling for you to do something, do it and get the hell into your ambulance where you control things.

Its a tough spot and I have been there multiple times. You will feel like shit either way though. Gotta roll with it or you won't last long in the field.

[90MarkVII]

If you are going into EMS, you WILL deal with it. Here is a nickle's worth of free advice....If or should I say WHEN you run into this, depending on your protocols, I would start working the patient, get them into the back of the ambulance and as cold as it sounds, avoid taking ANY of the offending family. Once you start rolling, get on the phone / radio with the receiving hospital and talk to the doc and let them know. More than likely, they will have you stop efforts until you reach the hospital, than maybe minimal when they are in the ER.

DO NOT get into it with family and argue on scene. Even if they have papers stating Advanced Directives, DNR, etc, you show up on scene and the family has gone ape shit and is yelling for you to do something, do it and get the hell into your ambulance where you control things.

Its a tough spot and I have been there multiple times. You will feel like shit either way though. Gotta roll with it or you won't last long in the field.

This.
To the letter.