DNR

(The following is for informational purposes only.  This is not to be taken as medical advice as I am not qualified to give such advice.  The primary intent is to show my experiences with New York State’s DNR and MOLST policies.  The secondary intent is to inform readers using my own personal experiences.  The decision to request and sign either document must be yours and yours alone.  This article is meant to inform the reader rather than convice readers to take action.)

In New York State, people have the right, under state law, to as that their doctor sign the below documents to control what first responders do in the event of a medical emergency.  I will be discussing the following documents:

1. Nonhospital Order Not to Resuscitate (DNR Order)
2. Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST)

Here is more information the MOLST and the DNR.

In July 2024, I discussed my experiences on my blog.  One article discusses my journey to getting the documents signed.  The second discusses my experience with getting my doctor to sign off on the documents.  Finally, I wrote a review of the company that made my DNR bracelet, required in New York.

The DNR is a simple document that shows the person’s name and date of birth and there is an “Do not resuscitate the person named above.”  The doctor then signs off on it, making it legally binding.

The MOLST is a series of questions asking what level of care you want.  For each question, I answered in the negative, meaning that:

• There will be no care when I’m not bleeding.
• There will be no intubation.
• I should not be sent to the hospital.  If I do go to the hospital, they are to keep their paws off of me, refraining from any sort of medical intervention whatsoever.
• No feeding tube.
• No antibiotics.
• No dialysis.

It very specifically says to let me die “a natural death.”  Absolutely nothing should be done.  If I die in the ambulance, or am already dead when they arrive, that’s the best outcome.  If I am still breathing at the emergency department, first responders must inform the doctors and nurses that nothing should be done, showing them the documents.

If you have either of the forms that I have discussed, and you will want to have both on your person at all times and places, you must purchase a DNR bracelet, shown to the left and, for good measure, should purchase a necklace, although they may not honor that.  But two things are better than one here.

I have both, ensuring that first responders will look for the forms on my person, preferably in my back pocket since I do not use a traditional wallet.  They are compelled and trained to honor DNR and MOLST documents.

If you want to read about my experience with an excellent company in regards to my bracelet, read my review.  Click on the image of the bracelet for a better view.

Those things are meant, for me at least, to be used outside of the home.  Inside my home, I have both documents posted on my fridge because apparently, local first responders are trained to look there after seeing a necklace and/or a bracelet.  I also have one posted on my front door and above my TV, ensuring that my wishes will immediately known and honored.

My wife is fully aware of the documents and has agreed to show first responders my documentation, even though she doesn’t want me to die that away.  I have also asked that she wait five minutes after I’m unconscious, because after that time, combined with response time, I will be too far gone to save.  That, and the documents, mean business.

Before signing off on the documentation, my doctor and the nurse went through a checklist:

• They ensured that I’m not suicidal.
• They made sure that I understand the implications and consequences of my decision.
• They took a picture of me wearing my DNR necklace and bracelet.
• They scanned the documents into my patient file.

Medical students were in the room as well and they signed off as witnesses.  My case was the first time that they dealt with DNR and MOLST documentation, so it was a real-life learning experience for them.  I’m glad I could make that happen for them.

My doctor of 11 years informed me that I am now his youngest DNR patient.  I wasn’t going for making history, but it’s interesting to know.

I took almost a year to get around to doing this.  I am not suicidal, nor am I “in crisis,” as people would say.  This is an informed decision that I’ve made as an adult.  It took me a long time to make this happen. So why would I set myself to just die?  Quite a few reasons, actually.

I have several health conditions that could cause death.  Most of all, seizures that could result in my choking on my own tongue.  This would deny me oxygen.

If I get revived, I may suffer permanent brain damage, making life a life of misery. I refuse to poop in diapers and suffer the permanent damage that many seizure sufferers experience, assuming that they don’t choke themselves with their own tongue.

Seizures can cause death, and if that’s going to happen, I want to go peacefully and not suffering.

I also have NF-1, which will get drastically worse as I age, leading to permanent brain damage.

Furthermore, I have several heart conditions (pulmonary stenosis with a grade 2/6 heart murmur and A-fib).  These things can cause a drastic reduction quality of life.

Now, some may say that my DNR and MOLST go against my Catholic faith.  But that is not so.  I confirmed this with my priest, whom I informed that I want neither him nor anyone else to intervene.  He is to stop fellow parishioners from intervening.  And, if the worst should happen, I will hopefully get last rites.

Now, legally and ethically, I realize that they’d have to summon an ambulance if I had an emergency, but I told him, as well as my other priest, that they are to ensure first responders and anyone else know about my documents and wishes.  I have asked them, given my DNR, to wait five minutes before calling, but I don’t know if they would do that.

There is one way to take back the DNR and MOLST: override it with verbal consent.  If you’re conscious and want to be saved after all, tell the first responders as loudly as you are able.

As far as I go, if I am alive and able to communicate, I will loudly and clearly state that I do not consent to treatment, no matter what the situation is.  Even if it’s something as simple as difficulty breathing, you bet your bippy I will not consent. Under state law, I can refuse consent and that is precisely what I will do.

I realize that they’re doing their jobs, but my job is to look out for my own wishes, since no one else will, except for my wife.  She doesn’t want to do it, but she knows my wishes, and will honor them, knowing that I will likely die in front of her or in the ambulance.

I am sharing my experiences publicly for those who are merely curious and for the benefit of those who may be thinking of setting their own DNR and MOLST cases.

If you do this, make very sure that it’s what you want.  At any moment, your wishes will be honored, so if you’re sure you want a natural death with no intervention, make sure it’s what you really want.