I said no to DNR but docs ticked the box for me anyway
Asthmatic Jacqueline gets hospital letter telling her she doesn’t want CPR
A GRANDMOTHER has hit out over a “do attempt CPR” notice which arrived at her home – after she says she refused to consent to it.
Jacqueline Hawthorn, 78, from Paisley, was admitted to her local Royal Alexandra Hospital for 10 days in November with a chest infection.
During her stay, the pensioner said a doctor spoke to her about having a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order placed on her records.
Jacqueline said it was not what she wanted, but after she returned home she received a letter stating she agreed to a DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) – and signed by two medics.
She told the Record: “I was in shock when the letter came through the door.
“I remember a doctor speaking to me asking if it was something I would want to consider for the future but
I said, ‘No, I don’t think so.’ They said they would contact me about it but they never got back to me. Then I was sent this letter signed by two doctors even though I never agreed to it.
“As you can imagine, it gave me such a fright.”
Jacqueline suffers from asthma and believed she was having an asthmatic attack when she went into hospital in November. But she was later diagnosed with chest infection that developed into pneumonia.
Despite her illness, she made a full recovery and doesn’t have any ongoing lung damage.
Jacqueline added that although she was stunned to receive the order, she initially thought it was a simple error until she read the Daily Record coverage on other patients who have discovered the order had been added without consent.
She continued: “I saw the other articles and that’s when I decided to reach out and talk about it. Hearing that this has happened to other people too makes me angry. There’s something not right here.
“I haven’t signed anything and neither has my family. I understand that I was very ill in November but I have made a full recovery.”
The Daily Record revealed last week that many Scots have found themselves in a similar position.
We told how super-fit teacher Fiona McVey, 44, was horrified to discover her DNR status while in an ambulance going to hospital.
Another NHS patient, Linda Henderson, 72, from Perth, was left appalled to find a note on her medical file that said “obese” and “Do Not Resuscitate”.
Other readers have also reported finding medical files with the assignation DNACPR – Do Not Attempt CPR – or DNR/DNAR.
The Scottish Government is now facing calls to investigate use of DNR notices on unwitting patients.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “While we cannot discuss individual patients, we would be happy to speak with Ms Hawthorn directly to clarify the details of her case, and conversations she has had with staff relating to her care, to answer any queries she may have.
“Under no circumstances is a blanket approach ever taken with DNACPRs. We aim to treat patients with dignity and respect at all times and in making a DNACPR decision our clinicians will consider every patient on an individual basis. At all times these decisions are based on the patient’s best interests.
“While Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is unlikely to be of any benefit in some patient groups, we appreciate a DNACPR order can be very difficult for a patient and their family and our clinicians involve them in such decisions.”
I am so angry. there’s something not right here jaqueline hawthorn on the DnR scanDal