Life Tips Part 2

Many of us know what is a Will, a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), and an Advanced Medical Directive (AMD). But how much do we know about Executors of a Will, other types of Power of Attorney (POA), and a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order?

PART TWO: DO-NOT RESUSCITATE (DNR) ORDERS AND ORGAN DONATION

a. Do-Not-Resuscitate Order

A DNR order is a medical order written by a doctor to instruct medical staff not to perform resuscitation in the event of an acute cardiac or respiratory arrest.^2 They will let the patient die naturally, and the following will not be performed:

1. Mechanical Ventilation

2. Intubation

3. Chest Compressions

It is easy to fool ourselves into thinking that DNR Orders are mostly for the chronically ill and the elderly, when in fact it is important for anyone on the brink of death. An unexpected road accident, a seemingly innocuous dog bite, or a sudden viral infection, can all end fatally.

A DNR Order is not to be taken lightly. It should only be made after consulting a doctor. Do take note that hospitals may also have their own policies on DNR Orders.

An Emotional Relief

1. A DNR Order allows you to reach the end of life with dignity, instead of being artificially kept alive, where your soul is already gone, and your physical body is but an empty shell.

2. Your family will not need to suffer from the heart-breaking dilemma of whether to keep you “alive” or let you pass.

3. It takes away the risk of family members falling out because of opposing decisions.

b. Organ Donation

In Singapore, our organs get donated after we pass on. This is mainly done via the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) which was passed in 1987.

Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA)

Who is covered?

1. Any individual aged 21 & above who passes away in a hospital

2. Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents (PRs)

Who is excluded?

Persons who are mentally disordered or those who have opted out

Which organs can be harvested?

Heart, corneas, liver, and kidneys

Eligible persons are automatically enrolled into HOTA at age 21. But a person can still opt out of it entirely or opt-out from the donation of the specific organ(s) by:

1. Completing the “Objection to Organ Removal Under Section 9(1)” form

2. Mailing it to the National Organ Transplant Unit.

But it is important to note that individuals who choose to opt-out, they will receive a lower priority on the national waiting list, in the event that they require an organ transplant in the future. This applies to the organ(s) which they have opted out from.

The decisions we make don’t only matter while we are alive. On the contrary, our instructions matter much more after we die. Because by then, our loved ones will be unable to discuss it with us, and they will only be able to do what they think is best. But why torture our family to guess how we would have wanted things to be done, at a time when they are already in such deep grief?

End-of-life arrangements may not be the easiest topic to talk about, but I encourage all of us to take responsibility for ourselves, especially in death.