Will paramedics follow the instructions in my living will if they are called to my home?

UPDATED: Jul 19, 2023Fact Checked

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Jeffrey Johnson

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Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

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UPDATED: Jul 19, 2023

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UPDATED: Jul 19, 2023Fact Checked

Paramedics who come to your assistance when 911 is called will not change their response based on a living will. Paramedics are not doctors. Their job is to stabilize the patient and transport him or her to a hospital where decisions about treatment can be made. However, in some states, they are authorized to follow a doctor’s written “Do Not Resuscitate” order.

To ensure your “Do Not Resuscitate” order, the first step you should always take is having your doctor sign off on the order. Their signature gives authority to the order so that hospital staff and in some states paramedics are obligated to follow the instructions. Next, keep the Do Not Resuscitate order in an accessible place. Ideally, in your wallet or next to your bed. If you are under hospice care, give a copy to the hospice nurse. This way if paramedics are summoned, she can show them the Do Not Resuscitate order and they will most likely honor it.

The best means of avoiding being resuscitated is to make it clear that once you are unconscious, you do not want anyone to contact 911. Leaving this instruction with those in your home is not guaranteed to work, but most family members do desire to honor a dying person’s wishes.

The rest of the contents of the living will are things that paramedics are not authorized to perform. Paramedics do not insert feeding tubes or place patients on breathing machines. They simply stabilize a patient and transport them to the hospital for further determination. The best way to make sure your living will is honored at the hospital is to keep a copy with you, usually in your wallet or give it to whomever is handling your care.

Case Studies: Ensuring Compliance With Living Will Instructions

Case Study 1: Doctor’s “Do Not Resuscitate” Order

Mary, an elderly individual, had a living will in place that specified her desire not to be resuscitated if her condition became critical. To ensure her wishes were followed, she consulted her doctor and obtained a signed “Do Not Resuscitate” order. She kept a copy of the order in her wallet and informed her family members about its existence. When paramedics were called to her home during a medical emergency, her family presented the order, and the paramedics respected her wishes, providing only stabilization and transport to the hospital.

Case Study 2: Hospice Involvement

Robert was under hospice care, and he had a living will that outlined his end-of-life preferences. He provided a copy of the living will to his hospice nurse, ensuring that she was aware of his wishes. When paramedics were called to his home, the hospice nurse showed them the living will, including the “Do Not Resuscitate” instruction. The paramedics honored the living will, and Robert’s wishes were respected during the medical emergency.

Case Study 3: Family Communication

Jessica had a living will that clearly stated her desire not to be resuscitated. While she didn’t have a doctor’s “Do Not Resuscitate” order, she made sure her family members were aware of her wishes. In the event of an emergency, she instructed her family not to call 911 and to respect her end-of-life choices. Although paramedics were not involved in this case, her family followed her instructions and ensured her wishes were honored.

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Jeffrey Johnson

Insurance Lawyer

Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...

Insurance Lawyer

Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about legal topics and insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything legal and insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by experts.

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