Ultra fit woman horrified to find 'Do Not Resuscitate' marked on medical records
A super fit teacher was horrified after learning 'Do Not Resuscitate' was marked on her medical records.
Fiona McVey now wants to know if health bosses are making notes on files with concerning instructions because of the NHS crisis affecting the UK.
Her records, she says, instructed paramedics not to administer CPR if she had a cardiac arrest.
Fiona, a primary teacher from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, was taken to hospital by ambulance after an infection sparked an irregular heartbeat.
The Daily Record reports the 44-year-old was stunned when a paramedic noted her medical file was marked in February 2020 as DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) which means she would be left to die if she had a cardiac arrest.
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Fiona is very athletic and loves all kinds of activities (Daily Record)
She enjoys gymnastics, rock climbing, badminton and skiing (Daily Record)Fiona asked husband Scott to follow the ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow in case the nightmare scenario happened.
In the end she received routine treatment and was allowed to go home six hours after being admitted on Wednesday last week.
She said: “I was horrified to see that I was marked up as someone that should not be resuscitated. I am just 44 and I love life.
"I have a heart condition so having a cardiac arrest is something I have had to think about – but I most certainly want medics to do all they can to bring me around if that ever had to happen.”
One medic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow told her all patients with serious heart and lung conditions were being marked up as DNACPR, whether they had discussed it or not.
She said: “My GP and the hospital said they do not have the DNACPR on their file and that it must just be the emergency ambulance service.
“One professional I spoke to said that people over 55 and people with serious heart and lung conditions were being marked up like that.
The 'Do Not Give CPR' instruction (Daily Record)"I read several stories during the Covid crisis about similar stuff happening and I would be horrified to think that there has been some kind of policy shift that might lead to people being allowed to die.”
Fiona, who has an 11-year-old son, regularly skis and takes part in gymnastics, badminton and other sports.
Her heart condition has occasionally brought on atrial fibrillation, which makes the heart beat erratically, but can be managed with medication.
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Fiona said there should be an urgent investigation, adding: “If a blanket DNACPR has been issued for large groups of people without their knowledge and consent, then people need to know.
"I have contacted my GP and health board. My GP has told me that they will try to get it removed, and the health board have not responded.
"Meanwhile I am left feeling very anxious that I will not receive CPR if I were to need it.”
Age Concern Scotland previously demanded an investigation after it became clear that many older patients were being classified as DNACPR.
Chief Executive Mark O’Donnell said his body's calls for DNARs to be a key focus of the inquiry into Scotland’s Covid deaths have been heeded.
Fiona made husband Scott follow the ambulance to the hospital (Daily Record)
The 44-year-old says she "loves life" (Garry F McHarg Daily Record)He said: “It is deeply concerning that we are still hearing instances of patients discovering that a DNAR order has been applied to them without their knowledge, and, on the face of it, no logical reason for this to be the case.”
He added: “No one should be made to feel that their lives and wishes somehow matter less than others.
"It begs the question of how many more people across the country are affected by this, who would only discover in an emergency situation that they have already effectively been written off.”
A NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGCC) spokesperson said: “We are sorry for any distress which may have been caused to Ms McVey and would be keen for her to get in touch to discuss her care experience.
"Following a full review, we can confirm a DNACPR did not originate from NHSGGC services, however, we are working with Scottish Ambulance Service to review the details of this case."
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