Legal Connecticut Do Not Resuscitate Order Form

1. What is a Connecticut Do Not Resuscitate Order?

   A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order in Connecticut is a medical order written by a doctor. It instructs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a patient's breathing stops or if the patient's heart stops beating. It is applicable in situations such as advanced chronic illnesses, where CPR may not align with the patient’s wishes for end-of-life care.

2. Who can request a DNR order in Connecticut?

   Any adult patient with the capacity to make their own healthcare decisions can request a DNR order. In cases where the patient lacks the capacity, the legally authorized representative, such as a healthcare agent, guardian, or next of kin, can request the order on behalf of the patient, based on known wishes of the patient or the patient's best interests.

3. How can one obtain a DNR order in Connecticut?

   To obtain a DNR order, a patient or their representative must have a conversation with the healthcare provider about the patient’s health status, prognosis, and preferences regarding CPR. The healthcare provider, typically a licensed physician, must then consent to the DNR order and officially document it in the patient’s medical record.

4. Where is a DNR order applicable?

   In Connecticut, a DNR order is valid in all healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and in the community, such as in the patient's home. It is also recognized by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel during an emergency outside of a healthcare setting.

5. Can a DNR order be revoked or modified?

   Yes, a DNR order can be revoked or modified at any time by the patient if they are competent, or by the patient's legally authorized representative. The revocation or modification must be communicated to the healthcare provider, and the medical record must be updated accordingly. It's recommended that any physical copies of the previous DNR order be destroyed or clearly marked as revoked to prevent confusion.

6. What should be done with the DNR order document?

   Once a DNR order is documented in the patient’s medical record, it's advisable to keep a copy of the order in an easily accessible place, especially if the patient is receiving care at home. Informing family members and caregivers about the order and its location is also important to ensure that the patient’s wishes are respected. If the patient is frequently transported or resides in different locations, it’s beneficial to carry a portable version of the DNR order.

7. Is there a difference between a DNR and a living will or healthcare proxy in Connecticut?

   Yes, there is a significant difference. A DNR order is a specific medical order related to CPR and does not address other medical treatments. In contrast, a living will, also known as an Advance Directive, allows an individual to state their preferences for a variety of medical treatments at the end of life. A healthcare proxy, or power of attorney for healthcare, designates someone to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the patient if they are unable to. These documents complement each other in comprehensive end-of-life planning.

One common misstep individuals encounter when filling out a Connecticut Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order is misunderstanding the form's purpose, leading to misapplication of directives. A DNR is a specific medical order not to perform CPR in the event of a patient's cardiac or respiratory arrest. Confusion about its intent may lead people to either use it inappropriately or fill it out incorrectly, causing unintended consequences regarding their medical treatment.

Another frequent mistake is not properly verifying the patient's identity on the DNR form. This is critical as any discrepancy between the information on the DNR and the patient's legal identification can render the form invalid. Such an oversight can inadvertently lead to the administration of life-saving measures that the patient explicitly wished to avoid.

Often, individuals fail to have the DNR order signed by a licensed healthcare provider, as is mandated by Connecticut law. This signature is a legal requirement that lends validity to the document, ensuring that healthcare professionals recognize it as an authentic and enforceable medical order.

Many also neglect the necessity of discussing the DNR order with their family members or loved ones. This omission can result in confusion and distress during emergency situations when family members are unaware of the patient's wishes. Ensuring that these conversations occur can help align everyone's understanding and actions in the event of a health crisis.

A significant error is not reviewing and updating the DNR order regularly. Medical wishes can change over time, and what was once a reflection of a patient's desires may no longer hold true. Periodic review and, if necessary, revision of the DNR ensures that it always represents the patient's current healthcare preferences.

Many individuals overlook the importance of having multiple copies of the DNR and distributing them to relevant parties, such as family members, healthcare providers, and potential caregivers. Without accessible copies of the DNR, healthcare workers might not be aware of the patient's wishes in a critical moment, potentially leading to unwanted medical interventions.

Ignoring the necessity to include specific medical conditions or considerations on the DNR form is another common oversight. For individuals with particular health issues, adding detailed medical information to the DNR can guide healthcare providers in making informed decisions that align with the patient's end-of-life wishes.

Some people mistakenly believe that completing a DNR order will cover all aspects of end-of-life care. However, a DNR is only one component of advance care planning. It's essential to also consider other legal documents, such as living wills or healthcare proxies, to ensure comprehensive management of one's end-of-life care preferences.

Not consulting with a healthcare professional or legal advisor to fully understand the implications of a DNR is a critical oversight. These professionals can offer valuable advice and insights into how a DNR order integrates into broader health and legal considerations, helping individuals make informed decisions.

Lastly, a common mistake is allowing the DNR form to become inaccessible, either by storing it in a secure place without informing anyone or by not carrying a wearable DNR identifier. In emergency situations, immediate accessibility to the DNR order is paramount for it to be honored by responding medical personnel.

When dealing with healthcare decisions, particularly those at the end of life, it's important to be prepared. In Connecticut, a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order is just one component of a comprehensive approach to managing one's healthcare preferences and ensuring they are respected. Alongside a DNR, there are several other forms and documents that are often used to support and articulate a person's wishes regarding their healthcare and personal matters. These documents can help individuals, their families, and healthcare providers make informed decisions that align with the patient's values and preferences.

• Living Will - A document that outlines an individual's preferences for medical treatments and interventions in scenarios where they are unable to communicate their wishes. This might include preferences on life support or specific interventions.
• Appointment of Health Care Representative - Assigns a trusted individual the authority to make healthcare decisions on behalf of someone else, in case they become unable to do so themselves.
• Power of Attorney - A broader document that can include healthcare decisions but also grants authority to manage a range of personal and financial affairs.
• HIPAA Authorization Form - Allows healthcare providers to share an individual's medical records with designated people, not limited to medical personnel.
• Organ and Tissue Donation Form - Specifies an individual's wishes regarding organ and tissue donation after death.
• Advance Directive - Combines aspects of a living will and the appointment of a healthcare representative into a single document, outlining both care preferences and designating a decision-maker.
• POLST Form (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) - A medical order that outlines a patient's preferences for end-of-life care, including resuscitation efforts. This is similar to a DNR but includes more comprehensive instructions.
• Last Will and Testament - While not directly related to medical decisions, it specifies how a person’s possessions and assets are to be distributed after death, and may include funeral preferences.
• Emergency Contact Information - A simple but crucial document listing individuals who should be contacted in the event of a medical emergency.

Together with a DNR order, these documents provide a framework for respecting an individual's healthcare and personal wishes. They ensure that the healthcare team, along with family and friends, has clear instructions on how to proceed in difficult situations. Planning ahead and preparing these documents can offer peace of mind to both the individual and their loved ones, knowing that their preferences are documented and legally recognized. It is advisable to discuss these forms with a healthcare provider and a legal advisor to ensure they accurately reflect the individual's wishes and comply with Connecticut laws.

The Connecticut Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order form shares similarities with a Living Will. Both documents are designed to express a person's healthcare wishes, especially regarding treatments and procedures they want or do not want at the end of their life. While a DNR specifically instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR if a person's breathing or heart stops, a Living Will can provide broader instructions about various life-sustaining treatments beyond CPR, such as mechanical ventilation or artificial nutrition.

Another document similar to the Connecticut DNR Order form is the Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA). This legal document allows a person to appoint someone else to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if they become unable to communicate their wishes. Like a DNR, an MPOA is vital in planning for medical care and ensures that the individual’s healthcare preferences are respected. However, while a DNR is a direct instruction to healthcare professionals, an MPOA designates another person to make those decisions, potentially including the decision to implement or revoke a DNR order.

The Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form is also closely related to the DNR Order. The POLST form goes beyond a DNR by providing detailed instructions about resuscitation, ventilation, intubation, and other life-sustaining treatments based on a patient's current health status. Both DNR and POLST forms are used to ensure that a patient's medical treatment preferences are followed, particularly in emergency situations. However, POLST is more comprehensive and is typically used for patients with serious health conditions or those who are towards the end of their life.

The Advance Healthcare Directive is another document similar to the DNR Order. It combines elements of a Living Will and Medical Power of Attorney, detailing a person’s healthcare preferences and appointing an agent to make decisions if they are incapacitated. Like a DNR, an Advance Healthcare Directive is used to guide healthcare providers and loved ones about a person’s preferences regarding treatments that prolong life, including resuscitation.

Last but not least, the Five Wishes document somewhat resembles the DNR Order in its objectives. It is a unique approach to advance care planning that addresses personal, emotional, and spiritual needs in addition to medical wishes. It covers who you want to make healthcare decisions for you, the kind of medical treatment you want or don't want, how comfortable you wish to be, how you want people to treat you, and what you want your loved ones to know. While a DNR specifically addresses the use of CPR, the Five Wishes document provides a broader perspective on end-of-life care.

Filling out the Connecticut Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order form is an important process that requires careful attention to detail and an understanding of your rights and preferences regarding medical treatment. Here are some guidelines to help ensure that your form is completed accurately and reflects your wishes.

Things You Should Do

• Consult with your healthcare provider to fully understand the implications of a DNR order. This can help ensure that the decision aligns with your current health status and end-of-life care preferences.
• Ensure that all required sections of the form are filled out completely. Incomplete forms may not be legally valid, potentially leading to unwanted medical interventions.
• Clearly communicate your wishes to your family, friends, and healthcare proxy, if you have one. Sharing your decision can help avoid confusion or conflict about your healthcare preferences during a crisis.
• Keep the original DNR form in an easily accessible location and provide copies to your healthcare provider, healthcare proxy, and close family members. This ensures that your DNR order can be quickly and easily found when it is needed.

Things You Shouldn't Do

• Don’t fill out the DNR form without thoroughly understanding its consequences. Avoid making rushed decisions without proper knowledge or guidance.
• Avoid using vague or ambiguous language when detailing your healthcare preferences on the form. Clear, concise language helps ensure your wishes are understood and followed.
• Don’t forget to update your DNR order if your healthcare preferences change. Keeping your DNR order current is crucial for it to reflect your most recent wishes.
• Don’t keep your DNR order a secret from those who need to know, such as your healthcare proxy, family, and healthcare providers. Transparency is essential for ensuring that your end-of-life care preferences are respected.

When discussing the Connecticut Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order form, misunderstandings can cloud judgment and decision-making. It’s crucial to dispel these misconceptions to make informed choices about this sensitive document.

• It’s only for the elderly: The Connecticut DNR Order isn't limited to older adults. It applies to any patient, regardless of age, who wishes to decline resuscitation efforts in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest.

• It covers all medical treatments: This form specifically addresses the refusal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It does not apply to other treatments or interventions a patient may need or want.

• A doctor can issue it without consent: A valid DNR Order in Connecticut requires the patient's consent or the consent of their legally authorized representative if the patient is unable to communicate their wishes.

• It results in lower quality of care: The presence of a DNR Order does not affect the quality of care a patient receives. Health care providers continue to deliver all other appropriate treatments and comfort measures.

• It's irreversible: A Connecticut DNR Order can be revoked or modified at any time by the patient or their legally authorized representative, ensuring that it can adapt to changing wishes or health conditions.

• It must be on a specific form: While Connecticut has a standard form for DNR Orders, what's most important is the clear documentation of the patient's wishes regarding resuscitation, legally recognized under Connecticut law.

• If you have a DNR, you can't have a Living Will: A DNR Order and a Living Will can and often do coexist. A Living Will provides broader instructions regarding end-of-life care, while a DNR specifically addresses CPR.

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) won’t respect a DNR: In Connecticut, EMS personnel are required to follow a valid DNR Order when presented, ensuring that a patient's wishes regarding CPR are respected even outside of hospital settings.

• It's only for terminal patients: While often associated with terminal illness, any patient who wants to refuse resuscitation efforts can request a DNR Order. The choice can be based on a variety of personal and medical reasons.

Understanding the facts about Connecticut's Do Not Resuscitate Order form is essential for making well-informed health care decisions. Dispelling these common misconceptions can help ensure that patients' wishes are understood and honored.

• A Connecticut Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order form is essential for patients who wish not to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event their heart stops or they stop breathing. It's a critical part of a person's medical wishes and care planning.

• This form needs to be filled out by a licensed healthcare provider. A conversation between the patient and the healthcare provider about the patient's desires, condition, and the implications of a DNR order is an important step before the form is completed.

• The DNR Order must be signed by both the healthcare provider and the patient or the patient’s legally authorized representative, such as a healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for health care, if the patient is unable to sign themselves.

• The form should be kept in a place where it can be easily found by emergency personnel, such as in a prominent location in the patient's home or with the patient at all times if they reside in a facility.

• Discuss and share the DNR order with family members, close friends, and caregivers, ensuring that they understand the patient’s wishes, and the existence and location of the form.

• If a patient wishes to revoke their DNR order at any time, they should inform their healthcare provider, and a new order or directive should be made.

• It’s important to review and, if necessary, update the DNR order regularly, especially if the patient's health status changes or if they are admitted to a hospital, to ensure it reflects their current wishes.

• Lastly, remember that a DNR Order only covers the withholding of CPR and does not affect other treatments or care the patient might receive. Patients should consider other advance directives for a broader scope of wishes regarding their healthcare.