How do you put a DNR in place? Living will?

[CameleonAreFightingBack]

So I want to put a DNR in place.
Im not dying but I’m chronically ill and my quality of life isn’t great.

Seeing few people survive CPR and those who do often have problems following that, I simply dont want to add to the already long list of stuff I’m suffering from.

But how do you get on doing that?
Do I start with my GP? Someone else and then have it put in my records?
I found lots if bits simply by googling but nothing that looked like a step by step instruction - for want of a better word

My Mum had signs up in the house, one she kept on the passenger seat of the car, a card in her wallet, made sure that friends knew, told both next door neighbours, the landlady of her local pub etc.

One woman she knew through a support group went as far as to have "Do Not Resuscitate" tattooed onto her sternum.

At the end of the day, you're not going to be able to cover every single eventuality, but most people spend the vast majority of their time in the same few places, especially as they get more ill.

@Bobbotgegrinch i actually heard about medics having Do Not resuscitate tattooed too!

A tattoo wouldn't work as there is no way of knowing if a patient has capacity when having that tattooed. No ambulance service staff member would abide by it.

In an ideal world the GP will have uploaded the DNAR decision onto the GP records that crews can access however this is not always the case, you don't always have signal to access them, the system doesn't always work so there's lots of ways it can fail.

What could work would be a DNAR bracelet like a medic alert bracelet with the location of your forms? So if you were out and about you would have them in your bag/purse etc? I would advise RESPECT form or advance directive due to being able to have more control over whT you want, its not just I don't want CPR you can specify treatments/drugs/levels of care etc etc.

To reiterate what someone has said further up in the thread an advance directive is a legally binding document that can not be gone against by anyone. It is legally binding and if you have refused treatment then providing you have capacity when making that decision it is then assault for anyone to administer treatment you have declined. However the orginal document would need to be with you. So if for instance you were admitted to hospital and the document wasn't there (or a copy attached to your medical record already) and you were in a condition where best interest decisions had to be made then you would receive this treatment until the document arrived.

I know someone who had a tattoo on her chest that said "DNR"

When my mother was approaching 90 she wanted to have hers tattooed on her chest!
She had a written form her doctor gave her that she had with her at all times and we all had copies of. And she told absolutely everyone that came into contact with her medically.

I work in the field of resuscitation. We are told that even if someone has a massive tattoo across their chest saying DNR and signs all over the place. Unless we see the legal, signed and witnessed advances directive we ignore it all and resuscitate anyway.

Signs are not enough. Speak to your GP and get the legal process started. Make sure the legal document is easily accessible. Make sure family know where it is to present it. That’s the only thing that will stop resuscitation.

Thank you @Madwife123 .
This is what I understood too.

Lots to think about really….

Ambulance person here. A ReSPECT form (or old fashioned DNAR) from a healthcare professional (your GP, consultant) will be registered with your local ambulance service when completed and as such the paramedics don't need to see the original (although it helps if they can find it).

Many people keep theirs somewhere very visible in the house - I've seen them framed on the wall opposite the door, stuck to the fridge, at the front of the person's care folder if they have carers.

An Advance Decision as per Compassion in Dying is very simple and free to complete, you don't need solicitors, and is legally binding as above. However, it can be less obvious for paramedics to find and understand.

Best is the combination of a ReSPECT/DNAR (whatever is used locally to you) AND an Advance Decision.

But over both of those - clinicians can only offer treatment that they believe will have meaningful benefit to the patient. I don't know what you suffer with but if it's the kind of condition where, should your heart stop beating, it would be futile to try to start it again, then any attempt at resuscitation will a) be very unlikely to work and b)not be started anyway, or will be stopped very quickly.

Additionally get all your next of kin to sign it, so there is no potential over-ruling by close relatives when it comes to it. Grandad did a very detailed letter of advance directive and got all of his children to sign it. Paramedics can be very bullish though. For my DM, she had a Respect form, but for some reason, they always persuaded her to go into hospital, "just to get checked out", she always had lots of tests, suggestions of treatment, and she always then self discharged, it was like a conveyor belt..... such a waste of time, money and effort.

Can I ask if a copy of the form would be accepted?
eg you have the original at home but the copy in your handbag.