End of life subgroup

Hi

Last week I was in hospital having an operation to deal with an infection in my back. This had been caused when a plate was inserted into my spine. It lead to meningitis  and five months in hospital. Fluid from my brain was travelling down my spine and leaking out at the base. They had already drilled a hole in my head to flush out this ‘custard’ like fluid. This new operation was to run a tube from my spine into my stomach thus enabling the wound to heal.

That is the background.

 What i wanted to highlight here was that whilst going through things with the lead surgeon for the tube op, she mention that there was a DNR notice in my file. Yes. Do not resuscitate.

 Of the five months in hospital I was probably only conscious for about two weeks. I had no memory of signing that form and indeed for the two weeks was floating on drugs.

Later that day i spoke to my wife and she also said she had not signed it. We contacted our grown up children and none of them had signed it.

The story i have is that they had had to, intubate’ me three times (three is normally fatal) and therefore put in the DNR notice in my file. i am not sure of the exact date but that notice had probably been in my file since last November,

This raises so many questions i am only now beginning to think about it.

First I didn't realise doctors could do that without consulting with the patient or family., If i hadn’t gone back in that notice would still be there,

Why were we not told before? When i was discharged for example.

I can understand a Doctor having to make a hard decision in the operating theatre but written notes for future guidance just scares me.

Any body else have experience with DNR notices.

Hi Titus

I didn't want your post to be ignored. So sorry to read you have had such a long and hard struggle and hope you are gaining your strength back. 

My only experiences of dnr are firstly when my father at 92 had a stroke and the a & e registrar asked me if l knew my father's wishes and l did and it was dnr and this stayed on his file and when he was eventually admitted into a care home they were aware of the dnr. Secondly is my own. I received an end stage prognosis from my oncologist and my first gp appt after this she completed the ds1500 form and we discussed dnr. Gp explained it was necessary now as l live alone and at any point could be ambulance into a & "e or the hospice. I am a very small person and lost so much weight the gp did explain recuscitation can be brutal and having experienced a lung collapse have no wish for that pain multiplied so agreed to dnr. It is now currently in my fridge in a green pot with stickers to alert medics. Oh the joys of living alone!!

There is one thing niggling me that may be relevant. Unfortunately l had done a power of attorney for my father but it was back in the day when they had to be registered. So once he had the stroke l sent it off to register which took at least 8 to 12 weeks meanwhile social services had the power to make decisions concerning my father not me! The current poa when signed are active which is a better system. Do you know if your wife or children were asked if you had done a power of attorney? If the answer was no then social services make all decisions as you being in a coma had no mental capacity. Hope this helps or someone else has had an experience that helps you.