A terminally ill patient has attempted to commit suicide by swallowing an entire bottle of opioid pain medication.The patient is brought to the emergency department and found to have a “Do Not Resuscitate” tattoo on her chest along with a handwritten note that states that she is tired of suffering and wishes her life to end. Which next step by the medical team is most appropriate?

Question

A terminally ill patient has attempted to commit suicide by swallowing an entire bottle of opioid pain medication.The patient is brought to the emergency department and found to have a &ldquo;Do Not Resuscitate&rdquo; tattoo on her chest along with a handwritten note that states that she is tired of suffering and wishes her life to end. Which next step by the medical team is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Search the patient’s medical record for an advanced directive or living will. Although the patient&rsquo;s tattoo and note are not legally binding advanced directives, they do speak to the patient&rsquo;s wishes. Prior to instituting life-saving measures, the medical team should search the patient&rsquo;s record for a legally valid document, such as an advanced directive or a living will. After searching the chart, the patient&rsquo;s next of kin should be contacted to aid in decision-making. Without more information or a legally binding advanced directive, it is inappropriate to institute life-saving measures or allow this patient to pass away.

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