Question

An EMS provider responds to a call and finds an 80-year-old female with no pulse or respirations. The patient has a history of terminal brain cancer. The family states that the last time she was seen alive was just 5 minutes prior calling EMS. They also state that the patient has a DNR order. In New York State, EMS personnel may accept which of the following DNR instruments as valid?

a) Verbal request from the family
b) Written nonhospital DNR
c) Written healthcare proxy
d) Written living will

Answer 1

In New York State, EMS personnel may accept a written nonhospital DNR as a valid document to withhold resuscitation in the case of an 80-year-old female with no pulse or respirations and a history of terminal brain cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an EMS provider in New York State responds to a call and finds an 80-year-old female patient with no pulse or respirations, who has a history of terminal brain cancer, and the family indicates she has a DNR order, EMS personnel may accept a written nonhospital DNR as valid. This is a specific legal document that outlines the wishes of the patient regarding resuscitation efforts. Verbal requests from family, written healthcare proxies, or written living wills alone are not sufficient to withhold resuscitation efforts according to New York State laws. The nonhospital DNR must be the written and properly documented form specifying the patient's desire to forgo resuscitative measures. In New York State, EMS personnel may accept a written nonhospital DNR as a valid DNR instrument. This means that option (b) is the correct choice. A written nonhospital DNR is a legal document signed by the patient or their healthcare proxy, which states their wishes to not be resuscitated if their heart stops or they stop breathing. This document must be signed and dated and should be readily available to EMS personnel.