Comparing The Roles Of A Do Not Resuscitate Order, Living Will, And Designation Of Health Care Surrogate.
A do not resuscitate (DNR) order is a medical directive that instructs doctors not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops or you stop breathing. A living will is a legal document that states your wishes for medical care if you become incapacitated and unable to make your own decisions. A designation of health care surrogate is a legal document that names someone to make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated and unable to make your own decisions.
Do Not Resuscitate Order
A DNR order is a specific type of advance directive. It is a written statement that tells your doctor and other health care providers not to start CPR if your heart stops or you stop breathing. It can be a very painful and invasive procedure, and it is not always successful. The DNR order must be on yellow legal paper and cannot be copied–to meet Dept. of Health requirements.
There are a few reasons why you might want to have a DNR order. For example, you might have a terminal illness and you do not want to be resuscitated if your heart stops. You might also have a condition that makes CPR very unlikely to be successful. Or, you might simply not want to be resuscitated if you are in a coma or other state of unconsciousness.
Living Will
A living will is a legal document that states your wishes for medical care if you become incapacitated and unable to make your own decisions. A living will can include instructions about CPR, but it can also include instructions about other types of medical care, such as feeding tubes, ventilators, and other life-prolonging measures. Your doctor can help you understand the different options available to you and can help you make decisions that are right for you.
Designation of Health Care Surrogate
A designation of health care surrogate is a legal document that names someone to make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated and unable to make your own decisions. This person is called your health care surrogate or proxy. It is important to choose someone who you trust to make decisions about your medical care. You should also talk to your health care surrogate about your wishes for medical care and make sure that they understand your wishes. When To Use Each One The best time to use a DNR order, living will, and designation of health care surrogate is when you are still able to make your own decisions about your medical care. This will ensure that your wishes are known and respected if you become incapacitated. If you are already incapacitated, it may be too late to make a DNR order, living will, or designation of health care surrogate. In this case, your doctor will make decisions about your medical care based on what they believe is in your best interest.
If you do not have a DNR order, living will, or designation of health care surrogate, your family will be responsible for making decisions about your medical care. This can be a difficult and emotional decision for your family, and it is important to make your wishes known to them ahead of time. Our elder law attorney team can help you with this documents to make sure they meet the guidelines of the state and your wishes for end of life. Call our office at 352.379.1900 to see how we can help you.
