In his article, “An Unconscious Patient with a DNR Tattoo” Engl describes a scenario where a man was brought into the emergency room with a combination of past conditions such as diabetes. The patient is diagnosed with hypertension, metabolic acidosis as well as an elevated blood alcohol level. The medics are confused on how to proceed with his treatment because they find a “Do Not Resuscitate tattoo” on his chest. Additionally, they have no further information that can help them locate his family. Engl states that his unconscious state makes it impossible to determine his mental capability to make such a decision. The medical team initially chose not to honor the tattoo and performed some treatment. The social department was however able to collaborate the tattoo with a written request in the patient's medical records. This article brings out the right to make end of life decisions even when incapacitated. It also brings out the right to end one's life indirectly.
The actions of the medical team are commendable in delaying the treatment. This is because tattoos and any end of life decisions may be changed due to different circumstances in life. The patient may have gotten the tattoos as a prank or genuinely, but had a different intention later . They may also be suffering from mental health issues.
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However, I do not believe or support the “Do Not Resuscitate” order should exist. Many people carry out all sorts of acts that have devastating consequences. They may choose to escape from a life of punishment through disguised suicide or personal medical negligence. They may then use the “Do Not Resuscitate” sign as a means of removing the suicide stigma and sanitizing their death (Brody et al., 2017). The same action can be used to disguise a murder. This right to life or death should be adressed in the context of medical condition and social status (Brody et al., 2017). It is not to be used as an escape route or something that gives power to criminals.
References
Brody, B. D., Meltzer, E. C., Feldman, D., Penzner, J. B., & Gordon-Elliot, J. S. (2017). Assessing Decision Making Capacity for Do Not Resuscitate Requests in Depressed Patients: How to Apply the “Communication” and “Appreciation” Criteria. In HEC Forum (Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 303-311). Springer Netherlands.
Engl, N. (2017). An Unconscious Patient with a DNR Tattoo. Retrieved from https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1713344 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc1713344
