Question

You are transporting a patient with a valid DNR from an extended care facility. You are 10 minutes away from the ED and the patient goes into full arrest. While reviewing the​ patient's documents​ previously, you identified that the patient was also an organ donor. The EMT​ can:

A.
transport the patient to their funeral home of choice and notify the funeral director of the​ patient's wishes.
B.
begin CPR and notify the receiving facility that you have initiated resuscitation on a potential organ donor.
C.
stop the ambulance and call the​ coroner's office as the patient has died since they are a DNR and they need to be declared dead before organ harvesting can occur.
D.
attempt to call the family and see if they still want the patient transported to the ED.

Answer 1

A patient with a valid DNR who experiences a full arrest should have their wishes honored, meaning no CPR or resuscitative efforts. The fact that they are an organ donor doesn't override the DNR. Medical personnel should continue transporting to the hospital and notify them of the patient's DNR status.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order who goes into full arrest during transport should be respected according to their wishes, meaning that no resuscitative efforts should be initiated. The DNR is a legal document that clearly states the patient's wishes not to receive CPR or advanced cardiac life support if their heart stops or they stop breathing. Even if the patient is an organ donor, the presence of a valid DNR means that the medical personnel must follow the order. The status of the patient as an organ donor does not override the DNR instruction, and the decision about when and how to harvest organs for donation is typically made after death, according to established medical protocols and legal requirements. It is recommended to continue transport to the designated hospital and inform the receiving facility of the patient's DNR status.