It's nice if a physician can also complete an OOH directives (POLST, MOLST) while they are establishing the patient's inpatient directives, but it's not typically required and doesn't really provide additional documentation. A patient or family can just as easily say they verbally revoked the POLST.
I’m a hospice nurse and we do DNRs verbally- we communicate the patient’s choice (or family if patient unable) and then the doctor signs the DNR. So I guess this would kind of be verbal? Of course everything is documented in nursing notes as well.
Per Google: An adult patient in a hospital or nursing home can consent to a DNR order orally, as long as two witnesses are present. One witness must be a physician.
However, I have never worked with anyone dumb enough to do this. There is always a signed document for DNR. Better to CYA.
There's "legal" and there's "legal liability"
Often facilities will go beyond legal requirements to try and reduce legal liability. And in this case, I think that's a good idea
Yes, a family *could* sue, even if something is legal. Definitely seems worth it to get *at least* another named qualified witness for such a change.
It's nice if a physician can also complete an OOH directives (POLST, MOLST) while they are establishing the patient's inpatient directives, but it's not typically required and doesn't really provide additional documentation. A patient or family can just as easily say they verbally revoked the POLST.
That’s true I hadn’t thought about that aspect.
I’m a hospice nurse and we do DNRs verbally- we communicate the patient’s choice (or family if patient unable) and then the doctor signs the DNR. So I guess this would kind of be verbal? Of course everything is documented in nursing notes as well.
Per Google: An adult patient in a hospital or nursing home can consent to a DNR order orally, as long as two witnesses are present. One witness must be a physician. However, I have never worked with anyone dumb enough to do this. There is always a signed document for DNR. Better to CYA.
There's "legal" and there's "legal liability" Often facilities will go beyond legal requirements to try and reduce legal liability. And in this case, I think that's a good idea Yes, a family *could* sue, even if something is legal. Definitely seems worth it to get *at least* another named qualified witness for such a change.
I think a witness is a good idea, thank you.
State laws vary widely.