Legal Florida Do Not Resuscitate Order Form

1. What is a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order in Florida?

   A DNR Order in Florida is a legal document that instructs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other life-saving measures if an individual’s heart stops or if they stop breathing. This order is typically requested by individuals with a terminal illness or those who are in a critical state of health and choose not to prolong life artificially.

2. Who can request a DNR Order in Florida?

   Any competent adult can request a DNR Order for themselves in Florida. Additionally, legal guardians, healthcare surrogates, or proxies can request a DNR on behalf of someone in their care, provided they are authorized and it aligns with the wishes of the person they represent.

3. How can one obtain a DNR Order in Florida?

   To obtain a DNR Order in Florida, one must first have a discussion with their healthcare provider to ensure it is appropriate for their situation. The healthcare provider, often a physician, will then need to fill out and sign the Florida-specific DNR Order form. It's crucial to follow the state's guidelines closely to ensure the order is legally valid.

4. Does the DNR Order need to be notarized or witnessed in Florida?

   No, the DNR Order in Florida does not need to be notarized. However, it must be signed by the patient (or their legal representative) and the attending physician. This signature requirement ensures that the order is made voluntarily and with full understanding of its consequences.

5. Where should one keep their DNR Order?

   Individuals should keep their DNR Order in a place where it can be easily found by emergency personnel or healthcare providers. It is recommended to have it visible in the home if the patient is receiving home care. Copies should also be given to their primary care physician and any healthcare facilities where they receive treatment.

6. Is the DNR Order valid in all healthcare settings?

   Yes, a properly completed and signed DNR Order is valid in all healthcare settings in Florida, including hospitals, nursing homes, and during emergency medical services (EMS) responses. Healthcare providers across settings are legally obligated to respect the wishes documented in a DNR Order.

7. What happens if medical staff are not aware of an existing DNR Order?

   If emergency medical personnel or healthcare providers are not aware of an existing DNR Order, they may proceed with life-saving treatments such as CPR. For a DNR Order to be effective, it must be presented or made known to the healthcare providers. It's vital for individuals or their family members to communicate the existence of a DNR Order and provide the document promptly in emergency situations.

8. Can a DNR Order be revoked or modified?

   Yes, at any time, an individual or their legal representative can revoke or modify a DNR Order. To do so, they should inform the healthcare provider or facility of their decision, and in the case of revocation, physically destroy the document. Modifications require the completion of a new DNR Order form, following the same procedure as the initial order.

9. Are there any costs associated with creating a DNR Order in Florida?

   There are typically no state-imposed fees for creating a DNR Order in Florida. However, there might be costs associated with consulting a healthcare provider or legal professional to understand the implications fully and ensure the document accurately reflects the individual’s wishes.

Filling out the Florida Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO) form is a critical step for those wishing to express their desires regarding life-sustaining treatment. However, individuals often make mistakes during this delicate process. One common error is the failure to ensure that the person signing the form has the legal authority to do so. Only the patient, a healthcare proxy, or a legally appointed guardian can validly sign the DNRO, making it crucial to verify the signatory's authority.

Another frequent misstep involves not using the most current form version. The State of Florida occasionally updates the DNRO form to incorporate changes in healthcare law or policy. Utilizing an outdated form can lead to the DNRO being considered invalid, which might result in unwanted medical interventions.

Incorrectly filling out the patient's information is also a prevalent mistake. The DNRO form requires accurate details about the patient, including their full name and date of birth. Any discrepancies between the information on the form and the patient's legal identification can render the document ineffective at a critical moment.

It's also common to overlook the necessity of a witness's signature. The presence of a witness who can attest to the authenticity of the signature adds a layer of verification to the process. Without this, the DNRO's legality can be questioned by healthcare providers.

Some individuals mistakenly believe that a lawyer's review or notarization is required for the DNRO to be valid. However, in Florida, this is not the case, and misunderstanding this can lead to unnecessary delays and expenses. The form is designed to be straightforward and does not need legal or notarial endorsement to be effective.

Not discussing the DNRO with the patient's healthcare team is another common oversight. Communication with healthcare providers ensures that the DNRO is integrated into the patient's medical records and that the medical team is aware of the patient's wishes, promoting a unified approach to the patient's end-of-life care.

Equally problematic is the belief that once completed, the DNRO does not need to be revisited. However, patients or their legal representatives should regularly review the DNRO, especially if there is a significant change in health status, to ensure that it still reflects the patient's desires.

Failure to properly distribute copies of the filled-out DNRO can lead to its instructions being overlooked when they are most needed. It's crucial to provide copies to all involved parties, including family members, healthcare proxies, and primary care doctors, to ensure that the patient's wishes are honored.

There also exists confusion about the difference between a DNRO and other advance directives, such as a living will. Each document serves different purposes and complements the other; understanding their roles can prevent critical misunderstandings regarding patient care preferences.

Lastly, a significant mistake is not safely storing the DNRO. The document should be easily accessible in an emergency. Patients or their representatives should consider keeping a copy in an easily identifiable location and informing close family members or caregivers of its whereabouts to prevent any delay in its application.

Making decisions about end-of-life care can be challenging but preparing ahead can provide peace of mind and ensure that a person's wishes are respected. The Florida Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO) form is a crucial document that tells medical professionals not to perform CPR if a patient's breathing stops or if the heart stops beating. Alongside the DNRO, several other documents are commonly used to complement and specify a person's healthcare and personal wishes. Here are some of the key documents that are often used together with a DNRO form:

• Living Will: This document allows a person to state their wishes regarding life-prolonging medical treatments in the event they can no longer communicate their decisions due to being incapacitated.
• Health Care Surrogate Designation: It appoints a trusted person to make health care decisions on behalf of the person if they are unable to do so themselves.
• Power of Attorney: A broader document that grants a person the authority to make legal and financial decisions, not just health care decisions, on another's behalf if they become incapacitated.
• Living Trust: Allows a person to hold all their assets in a trust to be managed by a chosen trustee and can also include instructions for health care and end-of-life decisions.
• Will: This document outlines how a person’s assets and estate will be distributed upon their death. It can also appoint a guardian if there are minor children.
• Organ and Tissue Donation Registration: Specifies a person’s wishes regarding organ and tissue donation after death.
• Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): This medical order outlines a plan of care reflecting the patient’s wishes concerning treatment options and life-sustaining measures.
• Five Wishes Document: Offers a comprehensive approach to discuss and document care preferences in personal and practical terms. It addresses emotional, personal, spiritual, and medical wishes.
• Memorial Instructions: Allows individuals to specify their preferences for funeral arrangements, burial or cremation, and other final wishes regarding their memorial.

Together, these documents can provide a comprehensive legal and personal plan for end-of-life care and the period following it. While the DNRO form plays a crucial role in immediate medical situations, other documents ensure that broader aspects of care, personal wishes, and legal matters are addressed. Preparing these documents in advance respects the wishes of the person involved and offers guidance to families during difficult times.

The Florida Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order form shares similarities with the Advance Directive. Both documents allow individuals to express their wishes regarding medical treatment in advance. An Advance Directive can include instructions on the use of life-sustaining measures, like a DNR, but it also covers broader health care preferences and potentially appoints a health care proxy to make decisions when the individual cannot.

Similarly, the Living Will is akin to the DNR Order in its purpose of guiding medical care. A Living Will specifically outlines what types of life-sustaining treatments an individual does or does not want in the event they are unable to communicate their wishes. It can dictate preferences on artificial hydration, nutrition, and other life-prolonging procedures, providing a broader scope than the more narrowly focused DNR Order.

The Medical Power of Attorney (POA) document also shares similarities with the DNR Order but from a different angle. While the DNR explicitly states the wish not to receive CPR or other resuscitative efforts, a Medical POA designates someone else to make medical decisions on behalf of the individual if they are incapacitated. This can implicitly include decisions about resuscitation, depending on how broad the grant of authority is in the POA document.

The POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form is another document that resembles the DNR Order. The POLST is designed for seriously ill individuals and goes beyond DNR orders by specifying preferences for other critical life-sustaining treatments, such as intubation or antibiotic use, based on the patient's current medical condition. It converts these preferences into medical orders that are followed by healthcare providers.

The Health Care Proxy is a document that, like the Medical POA, allows an individual to appoint someone else to make medical decisions for them, potentially including decisions about resuscitation. While it doesn't detail specific medical treatments like a DNR, the Health Care Proxy ensures that someone the individual trusts is making decisions according to their general health care preferences.

The Five Wishes document goes a step further by combining elements of a Living Will and Health Care Proxy, detailing a person's personal, emotional, and spiritual needs as well as their medical wishes, including resuscitation. It's a comprehensive approach that like the DNR makes one's preferences known in advance but covers a wider range of circumstances and decisions.

Last, the HIPAA Release Form, while not directly related to treatment preferences, complements the DNR Order by allowing the individual to specify who can receive medical information about them. This can be crucial in ensuring that the person or persons making health care decisions, including the decision to not resuscitate, are fully informed about the individual's medical condition and history.

When filling out the Florida Do Not Resuscitate Order form, attention to detail is crucial. It's essential to follow specific guidelines and avoid common mistakes to ensure the document reflects your wishes accurately. Below are lists of what you should and shouldn't do to help you navigate the process.

Do:

• Review the form thoroughly to understand all the sections and the information required.
• Ensure the patient's name and date of birth are accurately filled out to prevent any identification errors.
• Discuss the Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR) with a healthcare provider to fully understand its implications.
• Make sure the form is signed and dated by the authorized healthcare provider. Without their signature, the DNR may not be legally valid.
• Have the patient or their legally authorized representative sign and date the form, affirming their understanding and agreement.
• Keep the original document in an easily accessible location and inform family members or caregivers of its existence and location.
• Distribute copies of the duly completed form to relevant parties, including family members, healthcare providers, and hospitals that are part of the patient’s care network.

Don't:

• Leave sections incomplete. Every section of the form provides critical information necessary for its validity and execution.
• Sign or date the form earlier than discussions with a healthcare provider to avoid any misunderstandings or errors about the patient's wishes.
• Forget to review the form annually or after any major health changes. Circumstances and decisions can change, requiring updates to the DNR.
• Use pencil or erasable ink. All entries should be made in permanent ink to ensure the document's durability and legibility over time.
• Misplace the document or store it in a location where it cannot be easily found in an emergency, as this could delay its implementation.
• Omit discussions with family members or others close to the patient. It's important that those around the patient understand the patient's wishes and the existence of the DNR.
• Rely solely on the DNR without informing healthcare providers of its existence. For the DNR to be effective, current and potential caregivers must be aware of it.

When discussing a Florida Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO), it's easy to fall for common misconceptions. Understanding these documents is crucial, especially for individuals making important healthcare decisions for themselves or loved ones. Here are four widespread inaccuracies about the Florida DNRO form, clarified for better comprehension.

• Any doctor can issue a DNRO. In reality, a DNRO must be signed by a licensed physician to be valid in Florida. The misconception that any healthcare provider, such as nurses or physician assistants, can sign off on this document leads to confusion. Only the endorsement by a physician ensures the DNRO is legally recognized.
• Verbal DNROs are sufficient. While verbal wishes regarding do-not-resuscitate orders are important, Florida law requires these directives to be documented on the state-approved DNRO form to be legally binding. Verbal agreements, not documented on the official form and signed by a physician, might not be honored in an emergency.
• DNROs are only for the elderly. People of any age with serious health conditions or preferences about end-of-life care can opt for a DNRO. The decision to have a DNRO isn't bound by age but by personal healthcare goals, emphasizing the importance of discussing one's wishes with healthcare providers and loved ones regardless of age.
• A DNRO prevents all medical treatments. A common misunderstanding is that a DNRO equates to refusing all forms of medical intervention. However, a DNRO specifically instructs healthcare professionals not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. It does not preclude other treatments, such as antibiotics, pain management, or nutritional support unless specified otherwise in an advance directive.

When individuals in Florida decide to fill out and use a Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO) form, there are several key points to keep in mind to ensure the process is carried out correctly and effectively. These instructions help ensure that the individual's wishes are respected during medical emergencies.

• Proper Form Required: The state of Florida requires the use of a specific Do Not Resuscitate Order form. This official form must be filled out correctly to be valid. Copies of the form can be obtained from healthcare providers or directly from the Florida Department of Health's website.
• Physician's Signature is Necessary: For the DNRO to be legally valid, it needs to be signed by a licensed physician. The physician's signature indicates they have discussed the DNRO with the patient or the patient’s legal representative, ensuring informed consent.
• Keep the DNRO Accessible: Once the form is filled out and signed, it's crucial that the DNRO be kept in a place where it can be easily found by emergency responders. Common places include on the refrigerator, in a wallet, or with other important medical documents.
• Valid Statewide: The Florida Do Not Resuscitate Order is recognized and valid across the entire state. This means that no matter where the individual is in Florida, medical professionals and emergency responders are required to honor the DNRO.
• Revocation is Possible at Any Time: If an individual changes their mind, the DNRO can be revoked at any time. This can be done by physically destroying the DNRO form, verbally expressing the wish to nullify it in the presence of a witness, or through a new order that overrides the previous one.

It is important for individuals to discuss their wishes regarding resuscitation with family members and healthcare providers to ensure their preferences are understood and respected. Completing a Do Not Resuscitate Order is a significant decision that requires careful consideration and discussion.