I’m angrier than a blogger who just found about that paramedics might not honor his wishes. Last week, I discussed New York state’s Do Not Resuscitate law. But I am happy that the biggest ambulance company in the area will honor it.
There is a different response outside of a hospital as opposed to inside. What I have done is I’ve purchased a DNR necklace that I wear at all times. An order for a bracelet is pending.
As part of this story, I reached out to Mohawk Ambulance Service, the aforementioned ambulance company. The person who answered the phone seemed to not understand what a DNR is. So, I politely asked to be transferred to someone who knows what I’m talking about.
I finally spoke to a staffer who knows about MAS’ DNR procedure. She advised that the necklace would be honored, assuming that I’m unable to advocate for myself. But as you’ll see in a moment, that may not ring true in this state.
My wife is aware of my wishes, and will advocate for me both inside and outside of the hospital. At the hospital, she will tell them, as my next of kin, about the bracelet, and, for good measure, the necklace and that she does not consent to my receiving any treatment whatsoever.
With my bracelet on, paramedics must honor my wishes. Or so I thought. Again, what I also need is a DNR bracelet. That means that that lady, while friendly and helpful, was wrong. Dead wrong, no pun intended. And state law supports the need for a bracelet, not a necklace.
If I run into a situation where they keep trying to resuscitate me and I survive, there will be lawsuits. I will sue anyone and everyone who had even a small hand in saving my life. You can take that to the bank and deposit it.
Yes, I am aware that, as of now, there is a law on the books that protect scumbags who render unwanted care. There is an organization that’s trying to fix that so that I, for example, could sue a paramedic who ignored my DNR. Right now, it’s just a bill, but hopefully it will become law so that ghouls who ignore DNR’s can be held accountable.
As part of my research for myself and for this article, I called an organization based out of New York City that specializes in end-of-life care. The nice lady with whom I spoke verified that I should have both state forms on me at all times, just to be safe.
She also advised that the necklace and bracelet, it seems, will alert paramedics to look in my wallet or pocket for the form or forms, which I basically now have to carry with me at all times going forward. That will be a massive pain, making sure I remember to to take it anywhere I go. As far as at home, I must have my forms easy to find for first responders, or my wife should have them ready to hand over at all times.
As for that specific bracelet that I need, you can best believe that I will get one.
But, according to her, the necklace should suffice until I get my bracelet, but a bracelet is more effective and is more in harmony with state law. I think I may be screwed if all I have is the necklace, so I’ll have to act fast.
As long as I have at least one of the forms on me, the paramedics must stop any and all efforts to bring me back to life. Mohawk Ambulance confirmed, when I called back and spoke to someone else, that a bracelet with DNR paperwork on my person will stop any and all efforts to save my life.
A bracelet (and and hopefully a necklace, just to make sure) will alert them that I have the paperwork on my person. If they ignore all that, it’s lawsuit city.
In the hospital, however, it may be a different story. One hospital group, which runs several hospitals in the area, making it the biggest hospital network in upstate New York, has my DNR paperwork, but apparently, I need new forms. So I will get them. The other hospital does not have that paperwork, which I am working on. Hopefully, that hospital will honor my necklace and/or bracelet.
I have to do more checking so I can ensure the hospitals have their precious paperwork. Hopefully, they’ll listen to the paramedics and honor my DNR without special paperwork.
If I find myself alive in the hospital after being unable to speak for myself prior to my arrival, I will raise holy hell, the kind of hell that will require multiple units of the Albany Police Department and probably multiple police agencies. If I find myself alive after someone ignores my DNR, I will not be nice about it.
Let’s make it clear: I am not suicidal, nor am I “in crisis.” I’m just advocating for myself. If I’m unalived and then brought back to life, then I will cause problems, unless my necklace or bracelet isn’t on. That would be on me. I’ve made the adult decision that I don’t wish to be revived.
Why?
Well, I have a seizure disorder. I have not had a seizure in six months, but it could happen at any time. Although unlikely, people do die because of seizures, though I have to admit that death is rare. It’s the type of disorder where I could, hopefully, die by asphyxiation by way of my tongue blocking my air flow.
In that case, I’d likely pass on before the paramedics got there. But if I’m still living, but just unconscious, I don’t want to be revived. That’s because any lack of oxygen would damage my brain, and I won’t live with that. I just won’t.
I also have two heart conditions (pulmonary stenosis with a grade 2/6 heart murmur and A-fib) that could cause me problems, the type of problems where I’d be non-responsive. I don’t want to live with any brain damage that could happen because of those issues, hence the DNR.
There’s also a way to really ensure results. My wife has been instructed to, if I’ve stopped breathing, wait five minutes before calling 911. By that time, a DNR will be a moot point. This is the same thing I’d want my priests to do. It may seem selfish asking people to perhaps go against what they feel is the right thing to do, but waiting before calling is not a crime, especially when my DNR is discovered.
Given the different policies of the different ambulance providers, I called my primary care physician. After being placed on long holds (it’s a small practice), I got a hold of someone who advised me that I’d need to come see him in person, tomorrow at 3:15, as opposed to just faxing the state DNR form to him for him to fill out. That form is the one that cannot be denied by paramedics, nurses, doctors, etc. That is the form that I must get.
This really shouldn’t be that difficult. He better agree to fill it out or I’m finding a new PCP, a PCP who will actually honor my wishes.
My Catholic faith seems to support my decision. There is no Catholic law that says having a DNR is a mortal sin.
A person should be able to request a DNR. They must, in my opinion, honor my DNR wishes. A bracelet is, unfortunately, needed as all of my basic research finds that New York law only recognizes bracelets. If that’s the case, then I’ll have to shell out more money for that and have the DNR paperwork on me at all times. That shouldn’t be. But it is what it is. If that’s what I have to do to get medical personnel to back the hell off, then that is what I’ll do.
No one should be forced to live after a serious medical issue that will affect one’s quality of life, especially when living will mean a lifetime of brain damage or a lifetime of medical conditions that mean a miserable life.
This isn’t about suicide. It’s about making an informed decision and about respecting one’s wishes as pertains to their medical care.