The Adams Law Firm, P.A.

​FloridA Estate planning, Florida Probate & Guardianship

(407) 270-3724

Florida Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders

Do Not Resuscitate Orders are orders related to whether medical professional can use CPR in order to resuscitate a patient after that patient has cardiac arrest. A do-not-resuscitate order, or DNR order, is a medical order written by a doctor. It instructs health care providers not to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a patient's breathing stops or if the patient's heart stops beating. There are many reasons why a patient may not want to be resuscitated in such an event and it is important to ensure that patients have followed proper procedures to protect their wishes. Reasons for a DNRO include:

• Trauma associated with CPR;
• Limited Benefits of CPR;
• Unnecessarily extending life of patients; 
• Adding medical cost for care unnecessarily

The Adams Law Firm, P.A. recommends that every person scheduled to have inpatient medical care meet with a probate and estate planning attorney to discuss their estate planning affairs and to ensure their wishes will be respected. 

Helpful Links: 

http://coastalhealth.org/forms/DNRO-form.pdf

http://www.amednews.com/article/20070205/profession/302059970/2/

Questions and Answers on Florida Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders

Q: Can a lawyer prepare a DNRO?

A: DNROs are standardized forms which must be signed by a doctor. Your hospital will have these forms and be able to help you fill one out? To view or download a DNRO, see the following link: http://coastalhealth.org/forms/DNRO-form.pdf

Q: What is a DNRO is ignored?

A: Failure to follow a DNRO can result of prolonging life in a way that causes pain and suffering, to the patient, often for only short periods, and often dramatically increases medical bills, wasting assets of dying person's estate. Failure to follow DNRO is often the subject of law suites filed in behalf of a decedent's estate.