Question
What if emergency medical services (EMS) tells the licensed practical nurse (LPN) to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when Portable Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) indicating “Do Not Attempt Resuscitation” (DNAR)?”
Answer
A competent adult patient or the legal surrogate may always change their medical decisions and request alternative treatment.
In an emergency it may be difficult to determine whether the family member is the legal surrogate.
Facilities should develop policies to manage legal risk in these situations.
FAQ Category
Portable Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment
Audience