Do not resuscitate orders - patients have a legal right to be consulted

[edamsavestheday]

judgement here

I'm glad patients and families now have a right to be consulted. Even though I'm all in favour of not making some junior doctor jump up and down on an elderly patient, breaking their ribs. Patients or families when patient aren't conscious should be able to make an informed choice.

[claig]

Absolutely about time that his happened. How it was allowed to go on for so long as it did is just amazing. Finally patients are starting to get more rights.

[claig]

"Since her death, Janet's husband, David, has fought for a full judicial review to seek clarity over DNR notices and consent.
David Tracey and daughters "It feels as though the wrong done to Janet has been recognised by the court"

Speaking after the judgment David Tracey said: "We're all so pleased that the court has agreed that imposing a do not resuscitate order on Janet without consulting with her was unlawful."


Why did it take the family to fight for a full judicial appeal. What were the politicians doing? Why wasn't legislation about this put in the Queen's Speech so that every person in hospital could have greater rights?

[Isitmebut]

I don't think that this is new, several years ago my mother who had been ill for years but not terminally, was made worse during a stay in hospital having caught the C.Diff superbug three times and we were told they thought it best there was a DNR if it came to it - which we thought was a bit of a cheek (to put it mildly) as they made her condition worse.

Trying to think back, we thought mum was informed, but didn't want to bring it up in case it upset her. Maybe she wasn't.

Anyhoo she did recover and left the hospital , but has since passed away at home, so unfortunately I can't ask here.

[edamsavestheday]

Isitme, the new bit is that the Court of Appeal has ruled that there is a legal right to be consulted. Until now, doctors have had the power to impose a DNR without even telling you, let alone asking.

I know doctors think families have a very false impression of resuscitation - on TV programmes it is shown as successful far more often than in real life, and they don't show the brutal reality. BUT still, patients and families do have a right to be consulted, and doctors can explain the reality at that point.

I was relieved when my elderly Great-Aunt was dying that the nurses had discussed DNR with her and recorded her wishes (which were for DNR - she was 94 and happy to go). Would have hated for it to be left in question and some junior doctor being obliged to jump up and down on her chest, breaking her (very fragile) ribs. But it would have been quite wrong for anyone to make assumptions - it was my Great-Aunt's wishes that mattered.