DNR=DO NOT RESUSCITATE

DNR is ordered by the doctors. A patient's family has NO rights to overrule the order. However, they are given a choice to seek second opinion in which if it is still DNR, the patient will not be resuscited in event of collapse.


Whether a patient is DNR depends on:

Age
Premorbid level
Co-morbidities

My question is: Are we doctors trying to play GOD?

Do we have the rights to decide NOT TO TREAT based on numbers ( eg probability of surviving if resuscitated or admitted to ICU), cost-benefits reasons ( guys read up your Statistics notes)?

Honestly, I don't know the answer to that.

I mean, putting myself in others shoes, I don't think I am happy if my close ones are declared as DNR. I would like to think that I will give my all to save them, rather than signing off the DNR form.
Some people may argue that there is no point putting them through all the sufferings ( invasive procedure and hourly blood taking in ICU) before passing away. ' A peaceful journey to heaven' is what they would wished for, as they claimed.
If my love ones are 80 years old and above, I will opt for that goal. However, what if he/she is a 50-year-old but has multipe health problems and poor pre-morbid ( wheelchair bound for example)? Now that is a different story. Some doctors will still DNR patients like that.

Anyway, I will need to go through years of practice and experience to seek for the answers.
Perhaps when I have been in this field for years, I will come up with a satisfying answer.


Stupid Swine flu when will you go away!!! I hate masks.

Anyway, my weekend was an eventful one.

Been to the opening of Arts Festival 2009 ( ok, the admission fee is free! Bus was provided to get to the hall. ) I have to say that it was quite lousy. The highlight of that night is this really weird looking grasshopper- wanna-be (which I argued with him that it was an ANT) machine moving around accompanying by a group of jokers/ clowns. On top of it sat a sexy leggy girl with an idiotic smile plastered on her face.

Then I went to Hog's breath cafe enjoying my pork
Last but no least, I visited Geylang's famous frog porridge restaurant.
I think I dressed quite inappropriately. They thought I am a whore :/

Oncall again tommorrow. Good night.

* Dreaming is like lollies to the souls_ 6:30 AM