Do not resuscitate
Discussion
After hearing a bit about this in the press, made me think a little more about what i would want.
I am "only" 49, in great health and shape ( Athlean x fan!) but, if things go tits -up, i know i do not want any kind of CPR if my heart packed up- i just see it as my time to go and i am fine with that.
Apart from wearing a band saying " Do Not Resuscitate", what else do i need? Quick searches seem to be geared up to old folks that have serious illness and such like, and say about filling in certain forms and informing family ( which i have done) but, not younger people in good health who don't want intervention for their own reasons.
On a lighter note, i am just looking into this in the " just in case" scenario and i am happy enough with life but, one of those things i feel strongly about and so need that to be known to those involved if the unlikely happens!
I am "only" 49, in great health and shape ( Athlean x fan!) but, if things go tits -up, i know i do not want any kind of CPR if my heart packed up- i just see it as my time to go and i am fine with that.
Apart from wearing a band saying " Do Not Resuscitate", what else do i need? Quick searches seem to be geared up to old folks that have serious illness and such like, and say about filling in certain forms and informing family ( which i have done) but, not younger people in good health who don't want intervention for their own reasons.
On a lighter note, i am just looking into this in the " just in case" scenario and i am happy enough with life but, one of those things i feel strongly about and so need that to be known to those involved if the unlikely happens!
A few years ago my next door neighbour came round in a panic as her 80 year old partner had, had an episode and wouldn't respond. The 999 operator told her to try and get help to resuscitate him.
I spend 20 minutes giving him CPR and broke some of his ribs doing it. When the ambulance arrived they found he also had a pacemaker but couldn't revive him. Then it came to light that he had a DNR agreement but my neighbour hadn't told us.
A lot of worry, anguish and effort between myself and my wife who also helped would have been prevented.
I was quite upset that I couldn't save his life, try as I might. RIP Brian.
Having a DNR if you are not in hospital, doesn't mean people will know or perhaps follow it.
I spend 20 minutes giving him CPR and broke some of his ribs doing it. When the ambulance arrived they found he also had a pacemaker but couldn't revive him. Then it came to light that he had a DNR agreement but my neighbour hadn't told us.
A lot of worry, anguish and effort between myself and my wife who also helped would have been prevented.
I was quite upset that I couldn't save his life, try as I might. RIP Brian.
Having a DNR if you are not in hospital, doesn't mean people will know or perhaps follow it.
Thank you for your reply.
You had a very traumatic experience there.
I had similar back in 2002 when an older gentleman died right in front of me after suffering a cardiac arrest ( in his 80's and had undergone bypass surgery a couple years previously.)
It's a difficult thing to discuss and not exactly cheery but I know personally I would not want CPR if my heart failed but difficult getting that conveyed.
You had a very traumatic experience there.
I had similar back in 2002 when an older gentleman died right in front of me after suffering a cardiac arrest ( in his 80's and had undergone bypass surgery a couple years previously.)
It's a difficult thing to discuss and not exactly cheery but I know personally I would not want CPR if my heart failed but difficult getting that conveyed.
If you are younger and have a cardiac arrest then it is more likely to be due to a treatable arrhythmia
Resuscitation includes use of if defibrillator which is the real life saver
F-i-L had an arrest after a heart attack at 55. He was resuscitated in coronary care. Is now over 80. He lived to see his daughters get married; his grandchildren grow up and travelled the world in retirement
Resuscitation includes use of if defibrillator which is the real life saver
F-i-L had an arrest after a heart attack at 55. He was resuscitated in coronary care. Is now over 80. He lived to see his daughters get married; his grandchildren grow up and travelled the world in retirement
Thank you for your replys.
I know it's a difficult one but, I think it's very important that should anything happen that you "need" CPR but you don't want it but, can't communicate that, then your wishes are still adhered to and respected.
If such circumstances were to happen on the street rather than in hospital after say-admiticence for a chronic illness -then I will still want my wishes acknowledged and respected.
Apart from a wristband or a tattoo across my chest , I presume nothing else can be done?
I know it's a difficult one but, I think it's very important that should anything happen that you "need" CPR but you don't want it but, can't communicate that, then your wishes are still adhered to and respected.
If such circumstances were to happen on the street rather than in hospital after say-admiticence for a chronic illness -then I will still want my wishes acknowledged and respected.
Apart from a wristband or a tattoo across my chest , I presume nothing else can be done?
Advanced Decision
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/adv...
Legally binding and we follow them completely on the wards.
Probably impossible to enforce on the pavement
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/adv...
Legally binding and we follow them completely on the wards.
Probably impossible to enforce on the pavement
Edited by The_Doc on Saturday 5th December 21:25
I'm curious as to why people wouldn't want to be resuscitated, as it's something I do several times a week (sometimes several times a day!) in my job.
Generally where someone is older or has underlying conditions then resusctiation will not be successful, and that's ok - it was their time to go. While CPR isn't nice to watch (or perform) on someone you love, the person receiving the CPR has no knowledge of it. It's important to understand that you can't hurt someone doing this, as that fear does stop people from attempting it, and even if you break a few ribs it's worth it if you save someone's life. One thing I know from experience, and it's backed up by data, that if you do not start CPR while waiting for the ambulance to arrive then the chances of the Paramedics being able to revive someone are almost nil.
Sometimes, usually in younger people, it is successful and the person makes a full recovery and goes on to live a happy life for many years. Very rarely we will get someone back who doesn't make a good recovery, perhaps living a few days or weeks, which allows the family to come to terms with it and for the patient to have a dignified ending. None of these options seem like bad outcomes.
I suppose the fear may be that you come back massively brain damaged, disabled etc. In my experience of literally hundreds of resus attempts this is very very rare, I can't actually think of one that I have been involved with. Personally I'd take that risk for another 20 years of life.
Generally where someone is older or has underlying conditions then resusctiation will not be successful, and that's ok - it was their time to go. While CPR isn't nice to watch (or perform) on someone you love, the person receiving the CPR has no knowledge of it. It's important to understand that you can't hurt someone doing this, as that fear does stop people from attempting it, and even if you break a few ribs it's worth it if you save someone's life. One thing I know from experience, and it's backed up by data, that if you do not start CPR while waiting for the ambulance to arrive then the chances of the Paramedics being able to revive someone are almost nil.
Sometimes, usually in younger people, it is successful and the person makes a full recovery and goes on to live a happy life for many years. Very rarely we will get someone back who doesn't make a good recovery, perhaps living a few days or weeks, which allows the family to come to terms with it and for the patient to have a dignified ending. None of these options seem like bad outcomes.
I suppose the fear may be that you come back massively brain damaged, disabled etc. In my experience of literally hundreds of resus attempts this is very very rare, I can't actually think of one that I have been involved with. Personally I'd take that risk for another 20 years of life.
gregs656 said:
49 and you wouldn't want CPR? But you're otherwise fit and healthy?
Similar age to a bloke at my old office who went down with a cardiac arrest (cause unknown), we saved his life with CPR and he is totally fine now, back to cycling big miles and so on.
The exact same happened to a family friend.Similar age to a bloke at my old office who went down with a cardiac arrest (cause unknown), we saved his life with CPR and he is totally fine now, back to cycling big miles and so on.
Fit and healthy guy, collapsed at work with cardiac arrest aged 55, on site medical staff did CPR and ambulance took him away.
He’s now 67, enjoying retirement, and competes in cycling road races.
I just can’t understand who wouldn’t want the chance at another 10, 20, 30+ years with their family and friends if they could be saved or resuscitated.
One of my neighbours is 92. He had two heart attacks in his 60’s. He’s had 30 years without another and didn’t require an operation to fix whatever went on.
Pre covid him and his Mrs, also in her 90’s drove to a weekly dance and he went to the gym. Their house is set 15ft up away from the road and several times a week he’s in a hi vis up ladders and doing his gardening.
Few weeks back I was carrying new fence panels up the steps to our house and he came over to offer his services.
In those 30 years he’s seen multiple births of grand children and still been around to enjoy his Mrs who is just as lively.
Unless I was going to be cabbaged, someone best try and bring me back.
Pre covid him and his Mrs, also in her 90’s drove to a weekly dance and he went to the gym. Their house is set 15ft up away from the road and several times a week he’s in a hi vis up ladders and doing his gardening.
Few weeks back I was carrying new fence panels up the steps to our house and he came over to offer his services.
In those 30 years he’s seen multiple births of grand children and still been around to enjoy his Mrs who is just as lively.
Unless I was going to be cabbaged, someone best try and bring me back.
oceanview said:
Thank you for your replys.
I know it's a difficult one but, I think it's very important that should anything happen that you "need" CPR but you don't want it but, can't communicate that, then your wishes are still adhered to and respected.
If such circumstances were to happen on the street rather than in hospital after say-admiticence for a chronic illness -then I will still want my wishes acknowledged and respected.
Apart from a wristband or a tattoo across my chest , I presume nothing else can be done?
A wristband or tattoo’s advice would not be followed. Plus it needs witnessing. I know it's a difficult one but, I think it's very important that should anything happen that you "need" CPR but you don't want it but, can't communicate that, then your wishes are still adhered to and respected.
If such circumstances were to happen on the street rather than in hospital after say-admiticence for a chronic illness -then I will still want my wishes acknowledged and respected.
Apart from a wristband or a tattoo across my chest , I presume nothing else can be done?
What sort of answer are you expecting on here? Short of wearing a laminated DNACPR form on a lanyard around your neck at all times, how on earth do you think anything could prevent an attempt whilst you’re out and about. Maybe also google sudden cardiac arrest statistics for people in their 40s and worry about something a little more relevant.
Lord Marylebone said:
The exact same happened to a family friend.
Fit and healthy guy, collapsed at work with cardiac arrest aged 55, on site medical staff did CPR and ambulance took him away.
He’s now 67, enjoying retirement, and competes in cycling road races.
I just can’t understand who wouldn’t want the chance at another 10, 20, 30+ years with their family and friends if they could be saved or resuscitated.
Yes, I understand that I am in the minority on this.Fit and healthy guy, collapsed at work with cardiac arrest aged 55, on site medical staff did CPR and ambulance took him away.
He’s now 67, enjoying retirement, and competes in cycling road races.
I just can’t understand who wouldn’t want the chance at another 10, 20, 30+ years with their family and friends if they could be saved or resuscitated.
Maybe I would feel different if I had kids but ,I don't (and never wanted them when young or now) so I haven't that to consider.
Have great friends and family and enjoy a good time and so not saying all this because I am in a bad place!
Just how I feel .
Much the same as i wouldn't have chemo or any other stuff ( I would take all the painkillers I could get my hands on,though!)😃
Badda said:
A wristband or tattoo’s advice would not be followed. Plus it needs witnessing.
What sort of answer are you expecting on here? Short of wearing a laminated DNACPR form on a lanyard around your neck at all times, how on earth do you think anything could prevent an attempt whilst you’re out and about. Maybe also google sudden cardiac arrest statistics for people in their 40s and worry about something a little more relevant.
Yes, you're right- what sort of answer am I expecting on here!??!!What sort of answer are you expecting on here? Short of wearing a laminated DNACPR form on a lanyard around your neck at all times, how on earth do you think anything could prevent an attempt whilst you’re out and about. Maybe also google sudden cardiac arrest statistics for people in their 40s and worry about something a little more relevant.
Always interesting to see replys.
( Not worried about it though, even something more "relevant".)
DoubleD said:
OP, unless I have missed it you haven't actually said why you wouldn't want to be resuscitated?
Good question.Personally, It's because I think if my heart stopped then that means it's my time to "Go".
If, and when this time happens then I am fine with that and would rather nature takes its course rather than an external influence.
Statically, it's very unlikely because I am very fit and healthy and we are long lived in my family but, that's my view.
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