Patients forced to sign DNRS told to call health boards
Patients who feel they have been pressured into signing do not resuscitate (DNR) orders should contact their health board directly, the First Minister has said.
Speaking during the first ever virtual meeting of Parliament yesterday, Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie asked Nicola Sturgeon for clarity on the use of the orders, which are agreed between doctor and patient.
Once signed, the orders mean that attempts will not be made to revive the patient when they stop breathing or their heart stops beating.
Last week, it was reported the case of an elderly woman who was sent a DNR form through the post, which her family claimed was unwarranted.
Mr Harvie urged the First Minister to give an assurance that medical professionals will be reminded of “the complete need to continue to respect, as we normally do, the requirement for that longterm and sensitive discussions with individuals”. Ms Sturgeon responded: “No-one should feel under pressure to sign something of that nature that they do not feel comfortable signing or that they feel they haven’t had the right advice.
“People who feel aggrieved that they’ve had a letter like that can take that up through their health boards. “We will take steps to disseminate that advice and information more widely to GPS and care homes as well.”
Ms Sturgeon told family members or patients who are unhappy with their level of care, particularly around DNR orders, to contact their health board directly.
Despite the claims of people being pressured into the orders, the First Minister said it was still important for doctors and patients to make plans for the future of their care.
She said: “These are important conversations that should be held sensitively and properly and they may ultimately come to the point of asking whether they would or would not like to be resuscitated at that point.”
Speaking on Good Morning Scotland yesterday, national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch rejected claims that people were being pressured into signing the orders.
He said: “There is nobody being forced to sign do not resuscitate orders.”
An SNP MSP has meanwhile written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak to raise the issue of offpayroll workers who are not eligible for UK Government schemes designed to protect furloughed or self-employed workers.
Gordon Macdonald said offpayroll workers, usually directors of limited companies, fell between two support plans as they were not paid through PAYE, but instead took renumeration from a dividend.
The Edinburgh Pentlands MSP said: “This is an issue facing many small local companies who face collapse during this crisis.
“The Uk-wide schemes that you have introduced are very welcome and a very good starting point, helping the majority of workers affected by the current emergency.
“However, there are gaps that people are falling through. ” A spokesman for the Treasury said: “The UK Government is fully committed to supporting the self employed, and our Self Employment Income Support Scheme is one of the most generous in the world.”