Legislature Could Expand Do Not Resuscitate Orders To Minors

The Missouri Legislature is being asked to expand the state’s Do Not Resuscitate orders to include patients under 18-years-old. The bill would allow patients under 18 to have Do Not Resuscitate orders issued on their behalf by a parent or legal guardian. State Representative Hannah Kelly, a Republican from Mountain Grove, is the bill sponsor…

The bill deals not with how a Do Not Resuscitate order is created but honors the wishes of the parents and the physicians without putting EMS workers in the middle when 911 is called. Democratic state Representative Sarah Unsicker expresses concern that some parents, who have undiagnosed mental health illness, could make that decision for their child against their child’s best interests.

(From Missourinet)