Difference between DNR, DNI, living will, advanced health care directive and POLST forms
Towards the end of life, or even just anticipating he said in healthcare situations – the documents that apply at certain times and accomplish different things can be confusing. Here’s a quick guide to help you understand the difference between key documents.
A DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) is a medical order indicating that a person does not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if their heart stops or they stop breathing. A DNI (Do Not Intubate) is similar but specifies that the person does not want to be put on a machine to help with breathing.
A Living Will is a written document that specifies the types of medical treatments a person does or does not want to receive if they are unable to make those decisions for themselves. An Advanced Healthcare Directive, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive document that not only includes a person’s preferences for medical treatments but also names a trusted individual to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated.