DNR – DO NOT RESUSCITATE – ORDERS/BRACELET

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order alerts physicians, emergency personnel and healthcare institutions that the person named in the order does not wish to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation.   In Connecticut, a valid DNR order can only be written by a Connecticut licensed physician.

A DNR Bracelet also alerts physicians, emergency personnel and healthcare institutions that the wearer does not wish to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation.   In Connecticut, only an attending physician can obtain a DNR bracelet for a patient.

How a Patient Obtains a DNR Bracelet:   A patient, or the patient’s authorized representative, can obtain a DNR bracelet only by requesting one from the patient’s personal physician, or the attending physician at the health care facility where the patient resides. A DNR bracelet cannot be obtained directly by a patient or a patient's representative.

How a Physician Obtains a DNR Bracelet:   DNR bracelets are provided only to physicians or health care facilities on written orders from the attending physician.   An attending physician may obtain DNR bracelets from the agency designated by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) as the central supplier. The Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians (CCEP) is the agency designated by DPH to administer the Do Not Resuscitate orders program in Connecticut. An attending physician may obtain DNR bracelets from the CCEP.

A DNR Necklace is NOT recognized in Connecticut as a valid means of alerting physicians, emergency personnel and healthcare institutions of a person's wishes.

For more general information, see the Connecticut Legislative OLR Research Report, 2005-R-0455, "Living Will and a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/rpt/2005-R-0455.htm

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SOURCE: Connecticut Department of Public Health:   Public Health Code, “Do Not Resuscitate Orders"
http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/public_health_code/sections/19a-580d-1_to_19a-580d-9_dnr_orders.pdf
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: June2012