Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Directive

A DNR Directive (or a DNR Request) is a signed, dated and witnessed document that allows an adult to state in advance his/her decision that if his/her heart stops beating or breathing stops, no medical procedure will be undertaken to restart the heart or breathing.

Other appropriate emergency medical care by pre-hospital care providers, or medical care directed by a physician, may be provided.

To Be Authorized Under Kansas Law

• The individual creating the DNR Directive must be an adult and competent when the document is signed.
• The document should also be signed by the attending physician as "medically appropriate" unless the person's church or religion recognizes treatment by spiritual means only.

Other Considerations

If you have a DNR Directive it is important that you not only inform your doctors but that you have a way for emergency medical staff and others to be made aware of your wishes prior to an evaluation of your medical file.

A physician's DNR Order (as distinguished from a patient's DNR Directive or DNR Request) may be any physician's order or method of establishing a "do not resuscitate" order (sometimes referred to as "no code") in a medical care facility, an adult care home, or an emergency medical service if the method or order was established prior to April 14, 1994.

• It may be a separate document or merely a physician's order in the patient's record.
• Informed consent should be given by the patient or the patient's healthcare agent.

To get a free download of a DNR form from Kansas Health Ethics, Inc., Click Here.