Skin in the Game – Should Doctors Comply with a “Do Not Resuscitate” Tattoo?

Many patients find it difficult to communicate their end-of-life wishes to family members and doctors at critical points of time, especially if you are confronted with a sudden or unexpected ailment. There are legal documents designed to help address this important issue. For example, your estate planning attorney can draft an advance directive that tells your doctor and loved ones what kind of medical care you desire if you are incapacitated or deemed unable to make such decisions. You can also draft a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order to be included with your advance directive. A DNR is a request not to have CPR administered if your heart stops or if you stop breathing. Your doctor should place the DNR order in your medical chart and doctors and hospitals in most states accept DNR orders. But what if you tattoo “Do Not Resuscitate” on your body? Are doctors obligated to treat this marking...

09 December

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Get the Most Out of Maryland’s MOLST Form

Posted by Bobby Feisee

in Bobby's Blog

If you live in Maryland and have a life care plan, you may have heard of something known as a “MOLST” form. If you’ve never heard of this form, have no worries. We’re going to explain exactly what this form is and how to utilize it in your estate plan. What is a MOLST Form? MOLST stands for Maryland Order for Life Sustaining Treatment. A MOLST form signifies written medical orders by a physician or nurse practitioner regarding life-sustaining treatments, according to Miemss.org. The objective is for the MOLST form to be a portable and enduring medical order form that increases the likelihood that your wishes to receive, or decline, certain types of medical care will be honored. Keep in mind two things: (1) a MOLST form is NOT an Advance Medical Directive and (2) it is NOT a form prepared by an individual in the normal course of events,...