Sorry If this is in the wrong topic but I really need some advice ASAP and ill explain why.
My brother who is 38 has been in hospital for 6 weeks now with liver failure. Although the nurses kept telling us that his progress was slow we assumed he was on the road to recovery until 2 weeks ago when the consultant (who we had requested a meeting with the next day) suddenly rang my brothers wife around 8pm to tell her that my brother had 48 hours to live and asked her if she wanted to come and sit with him.
To say we were in shock is an understatement, we didnt think about the circumstances at the time, nor the fact the consultant told us my brother had been told he was facing death whilst he was on his own and no family there.
We simply raced to the hospital to be with him, and for the next 3 days we sat with him, they had withdrawn treatment and basically told us he was going to die. When he was still getting up to use the toilet 3 days later and was seeming more "with it" we did voice concerns but the doctors claimed it wasn't unusual and they it was just a matter of time. My family then held a meeting with the consultant who claimed that my brothers liver had failed and he had a minute chance of survival and even If he did, he would need a liver transplant. With this in mind, and having faith in this medical professional, when my family were asked If they would agree to a Do Not Resuscitate agreement they said they all agreed as it would not be beneficial to bring him back when his chances were so low.
However 2 weeks on, he has made a remarkable recovery up to now, so much so the doctors are treating him again, his blood levels are improving, the jaundice is lifting and he is making slow but steady progress, he has amazed us all. He is walking about and is slowly realising what has been happening. Now he claims at no point did he sign any form (which the consultant said he had) he is adamant that they never told him he had 48 hours to live and even so he should never have been told that news on his own.
Because he has made such progress and admittedly we are very concerned about the conflicting reports from different medics in this hospital, my sister in law has requested he has the DNR removed, she has explained that the circumstances are a lot different now and as he is improving and the doctors are treating him again, they do not want a DNR hanging over him now. But they seem to be fobbing her off. The nurse said she would need to speak to a doctor, she rang the doctor and was told they would ring back, by half past 5 they had all gone home and she was still waiting for a call. She has gone into the hospital this evening and they have again told her that she needs to wait till tomorrow to talk to a consultant. The consultant that was initially treating him is on holiday till 5th April so she is being fobbed off with "come and see a doctor tomorrow".
I am going into the hospital with her in the morning but can anyone tell me If the hospital are correct in stopping her from having the DNR removed? I was under the impression that it was the patients and families decision, unless the patient was terminal in which case there would be no quality of life If resuscitated. Can someone please advice?
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Do Not Resus. Who's decision is it If next of kin want it changing?
19 replies
luckimum · 14/03/2016 19:21
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