NHS 'too quick to resuscitate acutely ill people'

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

BBC News article (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18278110)

Am I the only one disturbed by the complete lack of regard for the agency of the patient displayed in this? I realise that in certain circumstances, such as a dementia patient with no known next of kin, the medical professionals involved may have to make a snap decision, but otherwise it should be the patient's choice whether to resuscitate or not, surely?

[Kenco Smooth]

BBC News article (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18278110)

Am I the only one disturbed by the complete lack of regard for the agency of the patient displayed in this? I realise that in certain circumstances, such as a dementia patient with no known next of kin, the medical professionals involved may have to make a snap decision, but otherwise it should be the patient's choice whether to resuscitate or not, surely?

I think that point was touched on by the article when it mentioned patients undergoing resuscitation attempts against their explicit wishes. Patients who do wish to be resuscitated but aren't isn't an issue, outside of sheer malpractice, as resuscitation is the norm. But also in many cases there isn't an opportunity to check the patients wishes if they are unconscious, highly distressed or in need of immediate large scale treatment. Even asking next of kin would have the potential to get nasty with wills and time and effort put into caring to be considered.

[Vanguard1917]

But also in many cases there isn't an opportunity to check the patients wishes if they are unconscious, highly distressed or in need of immediate large scale treatment


Yep. The patient would be in no position to make a reasoned judgement in such situations (or any judgement at all in the case of unconsciousness).

[piet11111]

I think that point was touched on by the article when it mentioned patients undergoing resuscitation attempts against their explicit wishes. Patients who do wish to be resuscitated but aren't isn't an issue, outside of sheer malpractice, as resuscitation is the norm. But also in many cases there isn't an opportunity to check the patients wishes if they are unconscious, highly distressed or in need of immediate large scale treatment. Even asking next of kin would have the potential to get nasty with wills and time and effort put into caring to be considered.

Im not sure but i think in the Netherlands they wear a bracelet in hospitals for those that do not want to be resuscitated.
When they do not have such a bracelet they are going to be resuscitated and if they didn't want to its their problem for not having it on.

[Kenco Smooth]

Im not sure but i think in the Netherlands they wear a bracelet in hospitals for those that do not want to be resuscitated.
When they do not have such a bracelet they are going to be resuscitated and if they didn't want to its their problem for not having it on.

Sounds like a good system but there'd still be the issue of people who were brought in to the hospital in such a condition that they couldn't opt out of resuscitation as it were. I suppose a similar idea to a donor card which you carry in everyday life would be a possible system but that both seems a little macabre for most people and a lot of effort for an issue which I'm not sure how widespread or distress causing it is (not saying it isn't, just that I'm genuinely not sure how big an issue this is).

[piet11111]

Sounds like a good system but there'd still be the issue of people who were brought in to the hospital in such a condition that they couldn't opt out of resuscitation as it were. I suppose a similar idea to a donor card which you carry in everyday life would be a possible system but that both seems a little macabre for most people and a lot of effort for an issue which I'm not sure how widespread or distress causing it is (not saying it isn't, just that I'm genuinely not sure how big an issue this is).

There are bracelets for that but since they do not have a national register like the donor cards they are not legally binding so if you see someone drop in the street and you perform CPR while he/she has such a bracelet your not going to be in trouble for it.

At my first aid cursus they taught me that it would be up to me if i wanted to perform CPR or not if i found such a bracelet.
(but i don't know what such a thing even looks like and i think it would be kinda strange to rummage through someones jewelry first :D)

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I'm quite happy for the DNR option to be taken by a doctor, with the input of the family and the patient if possible.

As i've recently discovered, rescuscitation is not always the best option and does sometimes rescuscitate someone to be, essentially, a vegetable. Whether that's worth it or not is debateable. I realise this is an emotive issue.