In message <[log in to unmask]>, Tudor Codreanu
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>The other day an 18 year old young man came in with what turned out to be a
>clavicle fracture for which he (and his girlfriend) was treated. Also, he
>did not failed to proudly exhibit his tattoo just above the left nipple
>which, grammatically correct, one could read, black on fair skin, character
>size of (approximatelly) 15: DO NOT RESUSCITATE. Wondering at the vast
>expanse of nothingness that may lodge in between his ears in a medial
>direction, I asked him if he knows what that may mean. It appeared that in
>a succint, and rather sporadic, episode of having too much blood in his
>alcoholic system, he decided to have it inscribed. I did not engage with
>him in further discussion as it would have headed towards a monologue
>exercise from my part, and of which conclusions may well have eluded the
>(very) narrow open port that by-passes primary monosynaptic connections.
>
>The question however remains, how would one should approach a case like
>this with a clear DNR instruction on the chest, on a patient that you don't
>know. Has a DNR form signed on a piece of paper more weight that an
>instruction tattooed on the wisher's skin? Is it a potential no-win
>situation?
>
>Tudor Codreanu
>staff grade
>dr gray's hospital
>elgin
I would ignore it! Youthful exuberance in getting a tattoo is not the
same as an advance directive. After all, when faced with a chap with a
dotted line tattooed round his neck with the words "cut here" emblazoned
thereon, would you get you scalpel (or axe) out?
One tattoo you might like to obey is found on folks with green pubic
hair and the words "keep off the grass" written above it......
--
Stephen Hughes SpR 'Arlow
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