This is very informative, thanks. How would I obtain a DNR? Wouldn't someone be suspicious of my getting one?
No, I would not say It would be suspicious to get a DNR many people have them, but the paperwork is usually used on people with medical conditions that would cause future problems if life was resuscitated. That being said anyone can get one. A living will is used in both cases, not in place of a DNR, though physically healthy people are more likely to only have a living will and not a DNR. I think a living will is just as if not more important then a DNR and honestly a must if you are actually going to ctb. Getting a DNR can be a little tricky it varies from state to state and sometimes is only valid in the state you get one in so if you plan to ctb in another state (Assuming you are in the US) that can make the DNR invalid. It is usually done as part of a medical treatment plan or facility and signed by a doctor, it is legally binding. Your doctor can give you more information and more than likely the actual paperwork to sign or at least the correct resources to obtain the paperwork needed for your current state. A DNR is really only a small part of end of life/care planning.
You can get a living will and/or appoint a healthcare surrogate without having to get orders from a doctor. Both of these things either the living will which explains what you want to be done while you are in any way incapacitated or the healthcare surrogate which would essentially make these decisions while you were incapacitated. I think in most cases you can have both items in place. The living will to outline what you want to be done while incapacitated and the healthcare surrogate to make decisions on your behalf, in any case, the living will did not have an answer to a certain situation. If you do decide to have a healthcare surrogate it would need to be a family member or friend you trust to make the decisions you would make yourself if you were able.
I would recommend researching more on your own, see if anyone in your current medical treatment plan would be willing to help you with a DNR, you do not need to say anything about wanting to cbt. I personally just don't want CPR or to be Intubated and hooked up to a breathing machine, it scares the crap out of me whether I decide to ctb soon or wait a while. As far as a living will or appointing a healthcare surrogate goes that is really something you should pay an estate lawyer to handle for you, even if you do not decide to ctb it can cover everything from a car crash, heart attack or any other life-threatening medical event. If you can not afford an estate lawyer there are some other ways you can create a living will either on your own but those requirements vary on where you live and usually require at least two witnesses at the point the document is signed or with an online service like Legal Zoom. All living wills follow the same kind of template and should not be mistaken as a piece of paper that someone has written their last wishes on, it is a legally binding document. That being said a Will that takes place after someone has deceased is very different then a Living Will and in some states, a handwritten will is not a valid form final wishes and is not admissible evidence, in a court of law, if for some reason your estate has to go to probate after your death.
Everyone should plan for the worst as soon as possible regardless if wanting to cbt. I am currently in the middle of my own estate/trust planning even though I do not have much of anyone to leave anything too. At the very least I can request any possessions I do not feel I want to leave with someone after I die to be donated to a place of my choosing and not thrown away. Good luck with all your planning no matter what paperwork route you decide to go. I know it can be hard but it is the right thing to do for everyone you may leave behind.
