Death is, unfortunately, a certainty in life. This sometimes comes slowly and painfully. While it’s impossible to know when we will die, it is a difficult decision that can help us control this unknown.
A Do Not Resuscitate order is put in place for terminally ill patients and calls for doctors to not perform CPR if the patient’s heart gives out or they lose oxygen. This order is a very difficult thing to decide. Most times it’s a family member of the patient who has to make the decision. There are many factors that come into effect when ordering to have a DNR order. In the end it depends on the patient and their experience with the illness afflicting them.
Setting Up a DNR
There are a few ways to go about ordering a DNR. It is possible for a patient to request a DNR, but sometimes it’s a family member who has to order it. This is in those cases where the loved one can not speak for themselves and unfortunately their family has to make a hard decision. The next step is finding a doctor who will carry out the DNR orders. Sometimes doctors like to prolong the treatment phase and don’t want to opt for an DNR so it’s better to go to someone else if you are completely sure that is the route for you or a loved one. It’s also possible to put this order in a living will. Once in place doctors have to follow this order.
DNR and CPR
It can be hard to understand the idea of a DNR order. This decision should be deeply researched and considered. For patients lying in bed who are in an immense amount of pain, bedridden, or those who have fallen into a coma and are unlikely to wake up, an option that rids them of this pain is promising. While CPR is an option, it might not be the best for that patient.
It’s been seen that CPR can have harsh effects on the body. It’s been known to break bones and puncture lungs, which, once the patient is saved, will cause more health problems. While in most cases, CPR is helpful, sometimes it’s not for patients who are already terminally ill. If CPR is administered, there is a chance for more health problems as a result, like broken bones.
Financial Realities of Dying
Another reason a patient or family member might order a DNR is financial. When someone is sick and starts to have increased medical bills, the thought of adding more can become stressful. Dealing with such pain and suffering already causes so much stress.
While ordering a DNR is problematic, whether for a loved one or personally, sometimes it is the best option. Living in agony is not appealing to many people. Having a plan to make sure that doesn’t happen sounds better than staying in pain. For more information, check out this resource from Cleveland Clinic.
