Let it be known... I want the freakin' plug pulled

[susandennis]

Yesterday, I read a news story about a 70 year old man with no family who was brought to the emergency room unconscious. He had a very clear tattoo on his upper chest that read "Do Not Resuscitate" and the doctors decided that he really didn't mean it. WTF????? Fortunately, the doctors were over ruled by the hospital and their lawyers and the man died. They somehow found corroboration that his wishes were to be left alone and not revived.

But I pretty much stayed annoyed about this all day and still am. Someone goes to the trouble of getting a tattoo and they think he didn't mean it??

So... let this be my corroboration. I do not want to be resuscitated ever under any circumstances. If I am dying, let me go. It is what I want. I am clear thinking and know what I'm saying. I have given my doctor a written document of my wishes. My emergency contact - my brother - is well aware of my wishes. And... I wear a bracelet that says DNR (Do Not Resuscitate). If I wake up from someone reviving me, there will be repercussions!

Ok, now maybe I can worry about something else.

I'll worry about the pool. It was even cloudier this morning. Finally I asked the woman in the lane next to me - a regular - what she thought and she said that this happens (cloudy water) from time to time. "So, it will get fixed?" I asked and she said oh yeah. I also sent a text to a guy who works there and who texted me when I first joined. I would love to hear back from him that they are aware, and will have it fixed pronto and there will be no need to close the pool. My fingers are crossed.

My credit card, this morning, shows an electronic payment of $6,700. Said windfall is not reflected in the totals which are in line with my spreadsheet. But it's sure there in the transaction list. This does not give me a warm and comfy feeling. I understand typos, I just don't like them in my finances.

Today is errands. Well, really more killing time outside the house while the house cleaner cleans. I'll make my usual check of Goodwill inventory but the rest is so far unscripted. Maybe a grocery stop. I'm getting bored with my meals and I need some new ideas.

Right now, I need to go get dressed before she gets here.

Edit: Here's the story. And here's the New England Journal of Medicine article.

Comments

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

Wow, was the tattoo not clear enough for them? How arrogant of them

[susandennis]

I went back to get the link and added the photo - he had NOT underlined for emphasis. Ok, now I'm getting pissed all over again :)

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

Yes, that is super clear and very nicely lettered too

[gracegiver]

I'm TOTALLY with you in the resuscitation debate. I was aghast when I read comments from people questioning "is it real? Surely he didn't mean THIS situation."

Terrible that we need to fight for our right to die.

[susandennis]

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes

[teragramm.livejournal.com]

I can kind of understand them questioning the tattoo. They might have thought the patient did it when he was younger, as a (sick) joke.

Have you signed papers making your brother your health care proxy? If you have, you should make sure there are copies of it and your wishes all over the place. My suggestion is put a copy on your fridge, one next to your bed and one in your purse. You should make sure your Doctors, your brother and if allowed, your local hospital have a copy.

I know this might seem like over kill but I recently lost an Uncle (who lived out of state). His wife had a history of not letting people she (supposedly) loved die peacefully. My uncle knew this and 15 years ago gave his proxy to a priest. The priest had changed parishes and couldn't be located. No family members had a copy of his wishes, so his wife kept him alive for several months, even though there was no chance of a recovery. My aunt (my uncle's sister) protested and told the hospital staff and his wife, that prolonging his life was not his wishes. The hospital said their hands were tied because she was his wife and without the proxy paper, they had to listen to her. His wife told my aunt "too bad, it's my decision." *sigh*

[susandennis]

If he grew to no longer agree with his tattoo he could have had it changed a number of different ways. I'm not buying it.

Yes, everyone in my life has signed documents - 5 Wishes and End of Life Instructions. Plus my brother, who knows and understands what I want has medical power of attorney. My doctor has my 5 Wishes document in my file - electronically and in paper.

AND in addition to the bracelet, I also have the instructions on the wake screen of my phone.

Your uncle's situation is the worst.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

Sheesh. The “not” is even underlined.

[theidolhands.livejournal.com]

Thank you for bringing this case to my attention, yes, I would agree that tattoo could not be more clear.

[billinaction.livejournal.com]

I read several news articles about this last week. Apparently there are cases where people have DNR tattoos but didn't mean them and when the tattoo is respected they have sued the hospital. One complainant said "I didn't think anyone would take it (the tattoo) seriously" people are idiots!!

[susandennis]

ok now I am even more annoyed! maybe my bracelet is more effective after all.

[lostincandyrain.livejournal.com]

I don't know - I think your bracelet is a much better signal of your wishes than a tattoo... I feel like someone who got a "do not resuscitate" tattoo like that is likely doing it as a "look how tough I am" sort of thing. With that particular font, it seems like *maybe* it really means do not resuscitate, but that's a lot to read into a font choice... Like sometimes people get sexually suggestive tattoos that don't actually mean that if you see the tattoo, you're invited to do what it says - you still have to ask and get permission...

I'm glad they found something to back up his wishes.

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

I know people who've gotten tattoos like that after having bad experiences with loved ones being revived against their wishes because the paperwork wasn't at hand when the medical emergency happened. One is a woman who just spent over three years and a large piece of their retirement fund caring for her husband who was revived despite having a DNR order. His body was alive during those years but his mind wasn't. She got the tattoo in hopes of preventing the same thing from happening to her.

[lostincandyrain.livejournal.com]

I get the urge, and agree that it would be terrible if it were ignored if the tattoo were meant as a DNR order (which in this case it was)... I've never had a loved one in that position, but the Terri Shiavo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terri_Schiavo_case) case terrified me.

I just feel like the tattoo is a dangerous way to go... They have some standardization around DNR bracelets, and laws about them in a lot of states, so you know how people will respond if you have one. Of course then you run the risk of your arm being trapped under a truck, or cut off, or something... So maybe there should be some standardization/laws around a tattoo to do the same thing. If there were a standard tattoo you could get that medical professionals were trained to know what meant, that would be great,

but there isn't. So it's really dangerous to assume what someone was thinking/meant when they got a tattoo... Maybe the easiest is just to say that a DNR tattoo means that medical professionals are not going to revive you, and the tattoo artists have to make sure you're in your right mind somehow, and have you sign something saying you understand this when you get one... But that doesn't exist now...

[topum.livejournal.com]

I think getting a tattoo is a bad choice for this and is not considerate towards the medical staff. How can they be sure that he didn't change his mind? Not that you can easily wipe it off if you have. We have 19 year olds with "no regrets" atttoed on them, which they regret within five years and people getting tattos of their lovers' names who wear them long after they forgot about those lovers.

I think a tag pendant (or a bracelet) is so much better (also cheaper, etc) than this however you look at it. If I put it on this morning then I definitely mean it and the medics do not have to be afraid of being sued etc.

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

I read about that and it makes me angry. it seems like it is almost impossible to have your wishes obeyed without having somebody else present to fight for them.

[slinkslowdown.livejournal.com]

What bothers me is that where I live, you need a doctor to sign off on a DNR form or it's not valid. I can't just decide that I don't want to be revived, and doctors will only agree to it if you're currently already "at the end of your life".

[susandennis]

well that sucks

[rsc.livejournal.com]

My credit card, this morning, shows an electronic payment of $6,700. Said windfall is not reflected in the totals which are in line with my spreadsheet.

Wait a minute... is this a credit or a debit? Either way, is there some indication as to who the other party top the transaction was? It seems to me that all my credit card statements give me this info.

[susandennis]

It was showing up as a credit with the only info being 'electronic payment'. It corrected a few hours later. Freaky to see, tho.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was intended for that other Susan Dennis.

[susandennis]

Probably!!