Name: State:

Dorian Mayhew Rothschild California

PREHOSPITAL DO-NOT-RESUSCITATE GUIDE

As a general rule, emergency responders are obligated to provide medical treatment, including the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), to an individual in response to a call for help, such as a 911 call. However, not all individuals want such medical treatment. Over one-half of the states provide a procedure whereby an individual, in cooperation with his or her physician, may direct emergency responders to withhold medical treatment such as CPR. This guide refers to such procedures as "prehospital do-not-resuscitate (DNR) programs". If you live in a state with a prehospital DNR program, it is important that you use your state's approved procedure and document. Any other document may not be honored. If you live in a state without such a program, it is possible that no such document would be honored. Therefore, this guide does not provide the opportunity to create a prehospital DNR document. The purpose of this guide is to: 1. provide information about the applicability of prehospital DNR programs; and 2. offer suggestions on what you might do to increase the likelihood your wishes about prehospital medical care are honored. Applicability Whether to forego emergency treatment is a very personal decision. Spiritual and personal beliefs play a part in the decision-making as well as an individual's current medical condition. It is often quite appropriate for individuals who are suffering from significant health problems, including a terminal illness, to receive emergency treatment. Generally, prehospital DNR programs are designed to assist people in late stages of illnesses who desire to die peacefully and naturally in their own home and for whom resuscitation would only prolong suffering or the dying process. It is important that you recognize that the consequences of not receiving emergency treatment may include death. It is therefore essential that individuals are sure about their decisions to forego resuscitation. If you are unsure about whether you want to receive emergency medical treatment, you are likely not a suitable candidate for a prehospital DNR program at this time. Your physician should be helpful in answering questions and explaining these issues. Suggested Actions - CALIFORNIA Taking the following actions will increase the likelihood that your wishes about receiving prehospital emergency medical treatment are honored. Talk to your physician about your concerns.
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Your physician can explain the potential consequences of foregoing prehospital emergency treatment in your specific situation and answer your questions. Additionally, physicians generally must provide the authorization for an emergency responder to withhold resuscitation. Talk to your family. It is important that your family and other individuals with whom you have particularly close relationships understand your wishes about emergency medical care and resuscitation. Consider completing a Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, or Advance Health Care Directive. These documents are generally not sufficient authorization for emergency responders to withhold resuscitation. However, documenting your wishes about life sustaining treatments and designating another trusted individual to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so are important ways to increase the likelihood your wishes are honored in other circumstances. If you need more information after consulting with your physician, the following may be helpful: - A local hospice or similar organization. A hospice staff member may be able to provide you with information on prehospital emergency treatment even if you are not a hospice patient. - A local or state Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department. California Resource: California Medical Association 221 Main Street P.O. Box 7690 San Francisco, California 94120-7690 (415)882-3301 or (415)882-3309

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