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Clear Guidance on DNR Orders and Advance Healthcare Directives
Understanding Do Not Resuscitate orders is an important part of advance healthcare and estate planning for Manhattan Beach residents. A DNR communicates whether you want resuscitation attempted if your heart or breathing stops, and having clear documentation helps ensure medical teams follow your wishes. This page explains how DNR orders function in California, what legal steps are needed to make them valid, and how they fit with other healthcare directives. Whether you are preparing your own documents or helping a loved one, informed planning provides peace of mind and practical guidance for emergency situations and long term care planning.
Planning for end of life care involves thoughtful decisions about medical interventions, and a DNR is one tool to accurately reflect preferences about resuscitation. In Manhattan Beach you can combine a DNR with an advance healthcare directive, physician orders such as POLST, and discussions with providers to create a coherent plan. Clear documentation and communication reduce uncertainty for family members and healthcare staff when urgent choices arise. This content covers the core steps for creating, updating, and implementing a DNR order while highlighting how it integrates with a broader estate plan to protect your healthcare wishes.
Why DNR Orders Matter for Manhattan Beach Residents
A well executed DNR order gives you control over resuscitation decisions and prevents unwanted emergency measures that conflict with your values. For families in Manhattan Beach, having a clear DNR reduces the burden of making split second medical decisions during crises and provides direction to emergency responders and treating physicians. In practice, DNR documentation improves communication among medical teams, supports consistent care across facilities, and helps align treatment with a person’s quality of life goals. Establishing a DNR as part of a broader healthcare planning approach offers reassurance that your preferences will be recognized when you are unable to speak for yourself.
About LA Estate Plans and Our Approach in Manhattan Beach
LA Estate Plans focuses on wills, trusts, and probate matters with a strong emphasis on advance healthcare directives for residents of Manhattan Beach and surrounding Los Angeles communities. Our approach centers on clear communication, careful document preparation, and practical guidance to ensure your DNR order meets California requirements and reflects your intentions. We work to make the process understandable, providing step by step assistance from initial conversations through final documentation and distribution. Clients receive personalized attention aimed at producing durable, accessible records that medical providers and family members can follow without confusion.
Understanding DNR Orders and How They Work in California
A Do Not Resuscitate order is a medical instruction that tells healthcare professionals not to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other interventions to restart breathing or heartbeat in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. In California, a DNR must be documented and recognized by treating medical staff to be effective. The order can be part of an overall plan that includes advance directives and other physician orders. Knowing the legal formalities and how hospitals, clinics, and emergency responders handle DNR orders helps ensure your instructions are honored when seconds matter.
DNR orders are important for individuals who want to limit resuscitation while still receiving other medical care that provides comfort and symptom management. They do not necessarily preclude treatments for pain relief, infection, or chronic conditions unless those wishes are included in other legal documents. It is helpful to discuss how a DNR will be interpreted in different care settings, and to coordinate with primary care providers and specialists so that records are updated and accessible. Clear steps for documentation and distribution improve the likelihood that your wishes are followed across care transitions.
What a DNR Order Means and When It Applies
A DNR order specifically instructs medical personnel not to perform CPR or advanced cardiac life support if a person’s heart stops or they stop breathing. Typically signed by a physician and entered into medical records, a DNR must comply with California procedures to be effective. It applies only in situations of cardiac or respiratory arrest and does not automatically stop other forms of medical care unless also addressed in additional documents. Knowing when and how a DNR applies helps individuals make informed decisions about their emergency treatment preferences and coordinate those wishes with caregivers.
Key Components and Steps to Create a Valid DNR
Key elements of a valid DNR include a clear written order that is recognized by a treating physician, proper documentation in medical records, and accessible copies for family and healthcare providers. The process typically involves consultation with a medical professional to assess the clinical situation, drafting or confirming the order in accordance with state rules, and ensuring placement in the patient’s chart. Distribution and ongoing review are important steps so that the order remains current and available to emergency personnel, home health teams, and hospitals where care may be provided.
Glossary of Terms Related to DNR Orders
Familiarity with common terms helps Manhattan Beach residents navigate DNR planning with greater confidence. Understanding the definitions and differences among DNR orders, advance healthcare directives, POLST or physician orders, and basic emergency procedures clarifies what each document controls and how they work together. This section lists key terms and plain language explanations so you can discuss preferences with healthcare providers and family members and make sure your documents reflect how you want treatment decisions handled in urgent situations.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order
A Do Not Resuscitate order is a written instruction indicating that a person does not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation or similar emergency resuscitation if breathing or heartbeat stops. The order is typically recorded by a physician in the medical record and may take different forms depending on care settings. A DNR focuses narrowly on resuscitation and should be coordinated with broader advance directives to address other medical treatment preferences. Proper execution and communication of the DNR help ensure that emergency responders and hospital staff follow the patient’s resuscitation wishes.
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
POLST is a medical order that translates a patient’s treatment preferences into actionable physician orders for use across care settings. It can include directives about resuscitation, intubation, and levels of medical intervention. POLST is intended for individuals with serious illness or frailty and is completed with a clinician’s input. In some situations a POLST may function alongside or instead of a DNR to provide more detailed instructions about life-sustaining treatments. Ensuring a POLST is completed and shared helps carry treatment preferences between providers and facilities.
Advance Healthcare Directive
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that allows a person to outline their wishes for medical treatment and to appoint an agent to make decisions if they become unable to do so. This document covers a wide range of medical choices, from life sustaining measures to comfort care, and can clarify the role of a DNR within an overall plan. In Manhattan Beach, using an advance directive together with a DNR ensures both resuscitation preferences and other healthcare decisions are documented and that a trusted person can act on your behalf when needed.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure used to try to restore breathing and circulation after cardiac or respiratory arrest through chest compressions and artificial ventilation. A DNR instructs that CPR should not be attempted in such events. Understanding what CPR involves helps people decide whether they want resuscitation attempted under emergency conditions. Conversations with medical providers about outcomes and likely results based on health status can inform whether a DNR is consistent with an individual’s goals for care and quality of life.
Comparing DNR, POLST, and Advance Directives
There are several legal tools available to record healthcare preferences, and each serves different purposes. A DNR addresses only resuscitation, POLST provides detailed physician orders for life sustaining treatments often used for seriously ill patients, and an advance healthcare directive sets broader instructions and appoints a decision maker. Choosing among these options depends on health status, personal values, and desired level of detail. Many people in Manhattan Beach use a combination so that resuscitation preferences are clear while other treatment decisions and decision makers are identified for comprehensive planning.
When a Focused DNR Order May Be Appropriate:
Clear, Narrow Preference About Resuscitation
A limited approach relying primarily on a DNR order can be appropriate when an individual’s wishes concern only resuscitation and they do not need broader instructions about other medical treatments. This clarity helps emergency personnel follow a specific instruction without ambiguity. For some Manhattan Beach residents who are otherwise engaged in routine care, a DNR provides a straightforward way to document that resuscitation should not be attempted, while leaving other treatment decisions to providers or a designated agent as situations arise.
Existing Advance Directives Already Address Other Treatments
If a person already has a comprehensive advance healthcare directive that covers pain management, comfort care, and decision maker appointment, adding a separate DNR may be sufficient to clarify resuscitation preferences without redrafting the entire plan. This can streamline planning by keeping the resuscitation instruction distinct while preserving the full scope of existing directives. It is important to ensure documents are consistent and accessible so that medical staff and family know where to find each instruction.
When a Comprehensive Healthcare Directive Is Preferable:
Multiple Treatment Preferences Require Clear Coordination
A comprehensive legal approach is often preferable when a person wants to document a range of medical preferences beyond resuscitation, such as preferences about ventilation, feeding tubes, and comfort measures. Coordinating a DNR with an advance directive and, where appropriate, POLST orders prevents conflicting instructions and ensures that all providers receive consistent guidance. For Manhattan Beach residents who want full clarity about end of life care across different settings, a cohesive plan reduces potential confusion and supports consistent treatment aligned with stated values.
Desire to Appoint a Decision Maker and Provide Detailed Guidance
When someone wants a trusted individual to make healthcare decisions if they cannot, or wants detailed guidance about a wide range of treatments, a comprehensive plan that includes an advance directive and detailed physician orders is beneficial. Appointing a healthcare agent and specifying treatment preferences in one coordinated set of documents helps family members and providers know who will speak for the patient and what outcomes the patient prefers. This clarity is particularly helpful in emotionally charged or complex medical situations.
Benefits of Including a DNR in a Broader Healthcare Plan
Taking a comprehensive approach allows individuals to document their resuscitation wishes while also setting expectations about other medical treatments and appointing a decision maker. This reduces ambiguity for clinicians and loved ones during emergencies, helps maintain consistent care across facilities, and supports quality of life goals. In Manhattan Beach, coordinating these documents and ensuring they are accessible to healthcare providers promotes treatment that aligns with personal values and reduces the stress families face when urgent decisions arise without clear instructions.
A broader legal plan also supports continuity of care by ensuring information travels with the patient between primary care, specialists, hospitals, and home health providers. That continuity minimizes the risk of conflicting treatments and enables more predictable outcomes that reflect the patient’s wishes. Regular review of these documents keeps them current with health changes and life events, preserving their effectiveness and ensuring that both medical teams and family members can carry out the plan as intended.
Reduced Family Burden and Clear Decision Authority
When healthcare wishes are documented clearly and a decision maker is named, family members are relieved from making high pressure decisions without guidance. This clarity prevents disputes and helps loved ones advocate for the patient’s preferences during urgent moments. Having a cohesive plan that includes DNR instructions and broader directives gives everyone a shared reference, making it easier to explain the patient’s wishes to medical staff and to uphold those wishes consistently regardless of care setting.
Improved Coordination Among Medical Providers
Comprehensive documentation ensures that all providers, from emergency teams to specialists, understand and follow the same treatment preferences. This reduces the chance of redundant or conflicting interventions and helps clinicians deliver care that aligns with the patient’s values. For residents of Manhattan Beach who may receive care from multiple facilities or transfer between providers, consistent documentation increases the likelihood that instructions are available and honored at each stage of treatment.
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Practical Tips for DNR Planning
Talk With Your Healthcare Provider
Discussing your wishes with your doctor or primary care clinician is a foundational step when considering a DNR order. A medical professional can explain likely outcomes of resuscitation based on current health status, address questions about related treatments, and ensure the DNR is documented in your medical record in a way that complies with California procedures. Clear conversations help align medical judgment with personal values, and they create a record that supports later steps such as drafting a written order and sharing it with other providers and family.
Keep Documents Accessible and Share Copies
Review and Update Regularly
Medical conditions, personal values, and relationships can change over time, so it is important to review DNR orders and other healthcare documents periodically. Schedule reviews after major health events, changes in family circumstances, or at routine intervals to confirm that the documents still reflect current preferences. When updates are made, distribute revised copies to your physician, family members, and anyone else who holds prior versions so that the most recent instructions are the ones relied upon in medical settings.
Why Manhattan Beach Residents Choose to Establish a DNR
People consider a DNR order to ensure their preference about resuscitation is respected and to relieve loved ones from making a near instantaneous decision in a crisis. A documented DNR clarifies how emergency responders and hospital teams should act if heartbeat or breathing stops, reducing the chance of unwanted invasive procedures. For those with chronic illness, frailty, or a desire to avoid aggressive life saving measures, a DNR provides a clear, legally valid instruction that supports dignity and control over end of life care.
Another reason to consider establishing a DNR is to coordinate medical treatment across care settings so that instructions travel with the patient. When a DNR is combined with advance directives and clear communication with care providers, the result is a consistent plan that reflects the patient’s goals. This coordination helps ensure that hospitals, skilled care facilities, and emergency responders interpret and follow the same instructions, which can prevent conflicting treatments and ease the emotional burden on family members during urgent and stressful moments.
Common Situations When a DNR Order Is Considered
A DNR is often considered by individuals with serious or progressive illnesses, those approaching the end of life, elderly people planning for future health changes, and anyone who prefers to decline resuscitation regardless of current health. It is also relevant for patients with conditions where CPR is unlikely to restore meaningful quality of life. In each circumstance, documenting preferences with a physician and ensuring proper legal formality helps guarantee that those wishes are understood and available to treating teams when needed.
Chronic or Terminal Illness
Individuals with chronic or terminal illnesses may choose a DNR to avoid aggressive emergency interventions that can be physically invasive and may not improve long term outcomes. A DNR allows patients to prioritize comfort, symptom control, and time with loved ones rather than undergoing repeated life sustaining attempts. Documenting this preference through clinician discussion and medical records helps ensure emergency care aligns with the patient’s plan and supports more predictable, value consistent medical treatment.
Advanced Age and Health Planning
Elderly individuals often include DNR orders as part of broader estate and health planning to reflect goals for end of life care. Aging adults may wish to avoid resuscitation that could lead to extended intensive interventions or prolonged hospitalization inconsistent with their priorities. Including a DNR in an estate plan alongside advance directives helps clarify choices for family and healthcare providers and makes care decisions more straightforward if an emergency arises when the patient cannot communicate directly.
Personal Preference for End-of-Life Care
Some people prefer to decline resuscitation based on personal beliefs about quality of life, dignity, or the burdens of invasive procedures. A DNR records that preference clearly so that medical teams know to avoid CPR or similar measures if the person’s heart or breathing stops. When personal values guide medical choices, documenting those wishes helps ensure that care providers and family members respect the individual’s decisions and that medical responses align with stated goals.
We Are Here to Help Manhattan Beach Residents with DNR Planning
Why Choose LA Estate Plans for Your DNR and Healthcare Documents
Choosing a law firm to assist with DNR orders and related documentation ensures the forms are prepared in accordance with California practices and that the approach aligns with your overall estate plan. LA Estate Plans focuses on wills, trusts, and probate matters along with health care directives, providing coordinated support for residents in Manhattan Beach. Our services include explanation of legal effects, preparing written orders in proper form, and advising on distribution to medical providers and family members so that instructions are clear and available when needed.
We work with you to identify treatment preferences and decision makers, helping to reconcile medical conversations with legally recognized documents. This includes coordinating physician involvement when necessary and advising on how to document preferences so they are honored across care settings. Clear steps for finalizing, signing, and placing the DNR in records are part of the service, along with guidance on when to consider complementary documents such as POLST or a broader advance healthcare directive.
Our process emphasizes accessibility and ongoing review so that your DNR and related documents remain current as health or life circumstances change. We encourage clients to share copies with physicians and loved ones and to check documents periodically. By providing practical assistance and straightforward advice, we help Manhattan Beach residents create a plan that reduces family uncertainty and improves the likelihood that their medical preferences will be followed in urgent moments.
Schedule a Consultation to Discuss Your DNR Options
How We Handle DNR Orders and Advance Directives
Our process for facilitating a valid DNR order in Manhattan Beach starts with a thorough conversation about your health goals and proceeds through document preparation, clinician coordination, and distribution to ensure accessibility. We focus on producing clear, legally recognized records that medical providers can rely on in emergencies. Each step emphasizes communication with medical personnel and family members so that directives are correctly recorded in medical charts and known to those who may need to act on them during urgent situations.
Initial Consultation and Information Gathering
The first step involves meeting to discuss your healthcare goals, reviewing any existing directives, and collecting medical and personal information needed to prepare a DNR order. We listen to what matters most to you, clarify how resuscitation and other treatments align with those values, and identify any decision makers you wish to appoint. Gathering this information upfront helps tailor documents to your situation and ensures the drafting stage accurately reflects your preferences and legal requirements.
Understanding Your Preferences
During the initial meeting we explore your treatment priorities, personal values, and expectations for end of life care. We discuss scenarios where resuscitation might be considered and how those interventions align with your goals. This conversation guides how the DNR and any accompanying directives are drafted so that the language used is both clear for medical staff and faithful to your intentions, reducing ambiguity if an emergency arises and you cannot speak for yourself.
Reviewing Legal Requirements
We explain California requirements for DNR orders and how to ensure documents will be recognized by hospitals, emergency personnel, and other providers. This includes when physician involvement or specific forms are necessary and how to place the order in medical records. Understanding these rules prevents procedural issues that could otherwise limit the order’s effectiveness. We also review how a DNR interfaces with other documents so that the full estate plan is consistent and enforceable.
Drafting and Reviewing the DNR Order
Once preferences are established, we prepare the written DNR order in the appropriate form and coordinate any required clinician signatures. Drafting emphasizes clarity and compliance with state norms so that the document can be readily recognized in a medical emergency. You will have the opportunity to review the draft, ask questions, and request modifications to ensure the order accurately reflects your wishes before finalization and formal recording in medical charts or registries.
Document Preparation
Document preparation includes composing the DNR wording, confirming necessary clinical input, and assembling any linked advance directives or POLST forms. We ensure the document is formatted and signed according to applicable procedures, and advise on how to create accessible copies for family members and healthcare providers. Proper preparation increases the likelihood that the DNR will be located and followed when emergency responders or hospital teams need to make rapid decisions.
Client Review and Feedback
You will review the prepared documents and provide feedback so that wording, signatories, and distribution lists meet your expectations. We make any requested adjustments and clarify implications for related treatments and decision makers. This review stage ensures that the final documents are aligned with your values and that you feel confident about how they will operate in practice. Clear communication at this stage reduces the chance of misunderstandings during emergencies.
Finalization, Execution, and Record Distribution
The final stage includes signing the DNR in the presence of required clinicians or witnesses, placing it in medical records, and distributing copies to family and other providers. We guide you through the signing process to meet California procedures and advise on how to keep records accessible for emergency situations. Ensuring the document is both properly executed and widely available increases the chance that your resuscitation preferences will be followed across care transitions.
Signing and Witnessing
Signing procedures vary depending on where care is provided and clinical involvement. We coordinate with your physician or treating clinician as needed to obtain the required signature and to place the order in the medical chart. When witnesses or specific forms are required, we explain and arrange those elements so the DNR meets procedural standards. Proper signing is essential to ensure the order is treated as an official medical instruction by providers and emergency responders.
Distribution and Record Keeping
After execution we advise on distributing copies to your primary care doctor, hospital records, family members, and any other clinicians involved in your care. Keeping one copy in a wallet or accessible digital location helps first responders find the order quickly. We also recommend periodic reviews and updates so that the most recent instructions are what providers rely upon. Effective distribution and record keeping reduce the risk of outdated or unavailable directives during urgent situations.
The Proof is in Our Performance
Frequently Asked Questions About DNR Orders in Manhattan Beach
What is a DNR order in California and how does it work?
A Do Not Resuscitate order in California is a medical instruction indicating that cardiopulmonary resuscitation should not be attempted if a person’s heart or breathing stops. The order is usually recorded by a treating clinician and placed in the patient’s medical record so hospital staff and emergency teams will know to withhold CPR or advanced cardiac life support in applicable situations. DNRs apply only to situations of cardiac or respiratory arrest and must be documented in a way that medical personnel recognize and follow during emergent events. To be effective, a DNR should be coordinated with your primary care physician or treating clinician so the order is properly recorded and signed where required. It is also helpful to pair the DNR with broader documents when appropriate, such as an advance healthcare directive, to address other treatment preferences and decision making. Proper documentation and distribution increase the likelihood that medical teams will find and honor the DNR in critical moments.
How do I create a legally valid DNR order in Manhattan Beach?
Creating a legally valid DNR in Manhattan Beach begins with a discussion with your healthcare provider about your wishes and clinical circumstances. A clinician will evaluate your condition, explain implications of resuscitation, and, if appropriate, enter a written DNR order into your medical record or complete the required form. Ensuring the order is created in accordance with California procedures and placed where treating personnel can access it is essential to its effectiveness. After the DNR is documented, you should share copies with family members, any appointed healthcare agent, and other treating clinicians. Consider keeping a physical copy in an accessible place and informing emergency contacts where the document can be found. Periodic review and updates are recommended so the order continues to reflect your current wishes and medical circumstances.
Can I change or revoke a DNR order after it is made?
Yes, a DNR order can be changed or revoked at any time as long as you have the capacity to make healthcare decisions. Revocation can often be done verbally to a treating clinician, but providing written confirmation of the change and updating medical records helps avoid confusion. It is important to tell your doctor and anyone who has a copy of the DNR about the revocation to ensure the updated preference is followed. If you revoke a DNR, notify your healthcare agents, family members, and all medical providers promptly, and request that the medical record be updated. Replacing the prior document with a revised order and distributing updated copies reduces the risk that an old instruction will be relied upon in an emergency. Regular communication and documentation maintain clarity about your current wishes.
Who should I tell about my DNR order so it will be followed?
You should inform your primary care physician and any specialists who treat you so the DNR is recorded in your medical files. Hospitals, clinics, and long term care providers where you receive treatment should also have copies when appropriate. Providing copies to those directly involved in your care increases the chance that the order will be available when needed and prevents delays or misunderstandings in emergency situations. In addition to medical providers, tell close family members or the person you appoint as a healthcare agent so they can advocate for your wishes. Consider carrying a wallet card, maintaining a digital copy, and placing copies in accessible home locations. These steps help emergency responders and visiting clinicians locate the DNR quickly and follow your stated preferences.
Will a DNR order stop other forms of medical treatment?
A DNR order specifically addresses whether CPR or similar resuscitation measures should be attempted if breathing or heartbeat stops. It does not automatically stop other forms of medical treatment such as pain management, comfort care, or treatments for ongoing conditions unless those preferences are also stated in additional directives. Medical teams continue to provide appropriate care apart from resuscitation measures when the DNR applies. If you want to limit other treatments, those preferences should be documented in an advance healthcare directive or discussed in a POLST form where appropriate. Combining a DNR with broader instructions ensures a comprehensive plan that clarifies which treatments you do or do not want under different circumstances and makes your overall medical intentions easier for providers to follow.
What should I do if family members disagree with my DNR choice?
Family disagreements about a DNR can be emotionally difficult, but the legally documented wishes of a competent patient generally take precedence. Clear, written instructions and clinician documentation help minimize conflicts by providing a definitive record of the patient’s decision. Communicating early with family members about the reasons for a DNR and including them in discussions can reduce the chance of disputes when urgent decisions arise. If disagreements persist, mediation or consultation with a legal or medical professional may help clarify the patient’s intentions and the legal effect of the documents. When a patient has named a healthcare agent in an advance directive, that person is authorized to represent the patient’s wishes, which can resolve disputes and guide clinicians in following the documented preferences.
How does a DNR differ from an advance healthcare directive or POLST?
A DNR focuses exclusively on whether CPR or advanced cardiac life support should be attempted in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. An advance healthcare directive is a broader document that can specify a variety of treatment preferences and appoint an agent to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot. POLST is a clinician signed medical order for seriously ill patients that provides specific instructions about life sustaining treatments and is intended to be portable across care settings. Choosing among these instruments depends on health status and personal needs. Some individuals use a DNR for narrow resuscitation instructions while also creating an advance directive for broader guidance and naming a healthcare agent. In other cases, a POLST may be appropriate when more detailed physician orders are necessary for current serious illness.
Will a DNR order in California be recognized if I am treated outside the state?
Recognition of a California DNR outside the state can depend on local rules and the receiving provider’s practices. Many hospitals and emergency responders honor out of state DNRs if they are clearly documented, but some jurisdictions or facilities may require additional verification or local forms. When travel beyond California is likely, it is prudent to carry a clear written order, discuss plans with your clinician, and check with providers at the destination about any additional requirements. To improve portability, consider completing supplementary documentation used by the receiving provider or obtaining a physician’s letter explaining the DNR order. Keeping accessible copies and sharing them with travel companions and local healthcare contacts reduces the risk of misunderstandings and helps ensure your resuscitation preferences are respected in other states.
Does a physician have to sign a DNR order?
In many settings a physician’s signature or order is required for a DNR to be placed in the medical record and recognized by treating teams. The clinician documents that resuscitation should not be attempted based on the patient’s wishes and clinical understanding. Working with your doctor clarifies medical implications and ensures the DNR is entered in a way that emergency responders and hospital staff will find and honor. If you receive care in multiple settings, coordinate with each treating clinician so the DNR is included in relevant charts and registries. When physician involvement is necessary, we can help facilitate the appropriate steps so the order is properly executed and recorded across your providers to maximize adherence in urgent situations.
Where should I keep my DNR order so it can be found in an emergency?
Keep your DNR order in locations where it will be accessible in an emergency. That includes the medical record at your primary care physician or hospital, a copy with any long term care facility where you receive services, and a copy given to a designated healthcare agent or family members. Carrying a wallet card or maintaining a clearly labeled digital copy can help emergency responders find the instruction quickly when time is limited. Additionally, tell loved ones and clinicians where copies are kept and consider placing a visible note in your home indicating the existence and location of the DNR. Regularly confirm that the most recent version is on file with your doctors and that those who need access know how to find it, which increases the likelihood that your wishes will be followed.