DNARs Used Without Consent
December 22, 2020
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) are currently undergoing an investigation as the number of do not resuscitate complaints jumped between March and September. They think that Doctors may have used a blanket approach during the first wave of the pandemic. During this first wave, the CQC have been told that DNARs were used without consent.
A BBC report states that care services may have used the Do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) inappropriately when they were under extreme pressure. The complaints that the CQC received jumped to 40. They only had 9 in the previous six months.
DNARs used without consent and other failings
DNARs should be decided on an individual basis. But the CQC states that Doctors put them in place using a blanket approach. They also did this without informing the patients, their families or loved ones. The CQC states that using this approach is a breach of their human rights.
The CQCs guidance states that DNARs must be free from discrimination, and not based on subjective views on a person’s quality of life.
There have also been numerous other failings due to patients having DNARs in place. The CQC found examples care homes not providing routine care to residents in care homes because of the DNAR orders that were in place. This includes ambulances and doctors not being called in emergencies. There may also still be some inappropriate DNARs on some people’s files.
Medical Negligence and DNARs used without consent
DNARs being used without consent may lead to many wrong decisions being made. Despite the issues that performing CPR can raise, such as punctured lungs, fractured ribs and severe bruising, Doctors should not use a blanket approach. This is especially true if they do not inform patients or their families that they have a DNAR.
There may have been more instances of medical negligence with the DNARs in place. This includes doctors making the wrong decisions when it comes to patients. Although the NHS is under a lot of added pressure due to the pandemic, these decisions can be devastating to families. If these decisions were the wrong ones, then you may be able to claim for medical negligence.
Claiming on Behalf of Someone Else
We know that with this news, it is likely that you will have to claim on behalf of someone else. Understandably, making a claim may not be the first thing on your mind. But if a loved one has suffered medical negligence and not received the care that they should have done due to a DNAR being used without their or your consent, then you may be able to make a claim.
Making a medical negligence claim may also help to ease your mind about any possible financial implications. We know that the loss of a loved one may cause financial worries, so the solicitors we work with can also help with them.
How We Can Help
Here at The Medical Negligence Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience in all manner of medical negligence. This includes issues of consent and wrong decisions. Contact us today by filling in our contact form, or call us on 01614138761 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.