Emergency room doctors at a University of Miami hospital faced an ethical challenge when Paramedics wheeled in an elderly gentleman with a "do not resuscitate" tattoo. Doctors at first followed regular procedure and began lifesaving efforts. The patient had an elevated blood alcohol level and diabetes. "We initially decided not to honor the tattoo, invoking the principle of not choosing an irreversible path." the University of Miami doctors said Ethics consultants soon advised the doctors that the tattoo likely represented his wishes and should be honored.After a DNR order was written, officials found an official copy of the man’s DNR order from the Florida Department of Health. He died overnight without further lifesaving efforts
What would you do if you were one of these doctors?
Why do you think he got this tattoo?
I would let him die because it looks like he got that tattoo and didn't want to be brought back. I think he felt like if he ever got too drunk and almost died then he wouldn't want to be brought back.
Replies
Well done Alex. Be sure to provide a hyperlink to your story.
I think that I would try to save him until we had confirmation that he the tattoo were his actual wishes. There is a possibility that he got the tattoo when drunk and then when he was sober regretted it. There is also the chance that he got the tattoo as a dare. If he did get it while he was sober then that means that he likely thought it out and didn't want to be saved.
1) I would do what he wanted but I would probably try and save the mans life depending on ages because if he's really old and lived a long well life then maybe I would let nature take over and let him be
2) I think he got to tattoo because he didn't want to come back and he just thought that he had a pretty good life so lets just end it when it ends.
I would do what he wanted because if it was so important to him that he wanted it permanently tattooed on his skin then I would honor it. I think he wanted this tattoo because he didn't want to live when he should have already died for some reason.
I would probably try to save him depending on how old he is. There could have been many reason he has the tattoo so you really can't just assume that these were his wishes. I think he probably got the tattoo to say just what it did. But, being a doctor you can't just go off of a tattoo.
I agree except that it wasn't exactly up to the doctors, they did make an initial decision but they were overruled by an ethics group. I am glad that they did get the decision right.
I think that I would do the exact same thing, although it would be hard because you wouldn't be able to do what you've been trained to do. I'm really not sure why he would get the tattoo.
Had I been the doctor you would need to look into the an =background to find out more about him. If they can't prove that tattoo is his actual wish, you shouldn't assume because he may not have had to die for it. People get tattoos all the time so I would be a guilty doctor for letting him die without proof. maybe he got it because he doesn't want people to come and save him if he makes a mistake in his life? but i'm not sure on that one.
I agree these doctors shouldn't have let him die because they would feel guilty for the rest of their lives because they would say what if. I think he may have made a mistake by getting this tattoo but I'm glad they made the right decision.
1. I think I would do the same thing as these doctors did. Their job is to protect and help, no matter what. 2. I think he got this tattoo so if he was ever in a situation that he was close to death that they would see it and just not help him. I do think that is awfully weird though. I feel like maybe this guy had mental problems that made him get that tattoo. Maybe not, I just have never seen anything like this besides on fake cop shows on TV.
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