Complete Story
 

05/31/2011

DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)

Conversations about the kind of health care you want during the final phases of life can be difficult and uncomfortable. These conversations however, are necessary to have with family members and others can relieve them of the burden of trying to decide what you may want. The document, Conversations That Light the Way, was written to guide conversation and make wishes known as you or a loved one approaches the end of life. It offers "What If" scenarios, questions to guide discussion, as well as important facts regarding Advance Directives, and organ donation. It also provides alternate resources to further your knowledge about conducting these difficult conversations. For more information, read the Advance Directives Packet, Choices. In it you will learn about the importance of having a Living Will and Durable Health Care Power of Attorney form and how to complete them. Ohio law also allows an adult with a medically appropriate condition to secure a portable DNR from his or her physician. This is a physician's order and provides for the withholding of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Ohio Hospice & Palliative Care Organization assembled two task forces to address the DNR issue among other end of life concerns. The DNR Task Force began in July, 2005 and was followed by the Honoring Wishes Task Force that continues to the present. Their mission is to address issues of confusion and sporadic compliance surrounding the DNR Comfort Care Protocol established in 1999. They identified several problems and sources of confusion within the DNR Protocol. The task force suggested changes to the Ohio Department of Health and is working with ODH to consider changes in the rules associated with DNR. In addition, the task force created "DNR Facts," a series of brief paragraphs seeking to offer clarification of the protocol, and they developed an educational module for presentation to healthcare workers. Many other states' initiatives were reviewed, such as POLST (Physician's Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment), MOLST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment), and Five Wishes. The Honoring Wishes Task Force is recommending the adoption of similar principles outlined in these documents for Ohioans.