Yes, you can legally refuse CPR in California, but only if your wishes are properly documented through specific legal forms. Whether due to personal values, serious illness, or end-of-life planning, many individuals prefer to opt out of life-saving measures like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
California law supports your right to make that choice, but the process involves more than just informing a doctor or loved one. You need to use formal tools such as a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form, or an Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) to ensure your decision is legally recognized and followed, especially in emergencies.
This article explains the legal ways to refuse CPR in California, how to ensure your wishes are honored, and what healthcare providers and emergency responders are required to do in these situations.
What are the Legal Ways to Refuse CPR?
In California, you can legally refuse CPR through several established mechanisms. These ensure that your wishes are documented and respected by healthcare providers and emergency personnel.
Below are the methods that help you to refuse CPR in California:
1. Using Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders
One of the most common and direct ways to legally refuse CPR in California is by using a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order.
A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a legally recognized medical document that instructs healthcare professionals not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops or if you stop breathing. In California, DNR orders are part of the state’s broader effort to respect patient autonomy and ensure that individuals receive only the medical care they desire, especially in end-of-life situations.
You might consider a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order if you have a serious illness and don’t want aggressive treatments to keep you alive. It can also be a good choice if you’re older or have ongoing health problems and would rather focus on comfort instead of trying to be revived if your heart stops. In fact, a study analyzing over 6,000 ICU patients found that the percentage of patients with DNR orders increased significantly with age. This trend highlights how age can influence decisions about life-sustaining treatments.
A DNR only means you will not receive CPR, and it does not stop other medical care like medicine for pain, antibiotics, or oxygen in an emergency.
How to Get a DNR Order in California?
Below are the steps that you should follow to get a DNR Order in California:
1. Talk with your doctor about your wish to have a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. Your doctor will explain about DNR, which will help you to understand your decision.
2. Obtain and fill out the official DNR form with your personal information, making sure all required sections are completed accurately.
3. Get Your Physician’s Signature on your DNR form, which confirms that your doctor agrees DNR is appropriate for your medical condition.
4. Double-check that the form is fully completed, signed by both you (or your legal representative) and your doctor, and follows all California state guidelines.
2. Getting Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
Another legal way to refuse CPR in California is by using a POLST form (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment).
The POLST form is a medical form that helps people with serious illnesses say what kind of medical care they want if they get very sick. It tells doctors and emergency workers what to do, like whether to try CPR, what level of treatment to give, and if they should use feeding tubes or other life support.
A POLST is more detailed than a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order because it covers many kinds of treatments, not just CPR. It has to be signed by your doctor and by you (or someone you trust to make decisions for you). Once signed, it’s a legal order that doctors and emergency responders must follow.
The POLST form goes with you wherever you are at home, in the hospital, or in a care facility, so your wishes are always clear. If you are seriously ill and want to make sure your medical choices are respected, a POLST form can help.
How to Get a POLST Form in California?
You can follow these simple steps to get the POLST Form in California:
1. You need to have a conversation with your doctor or healthcare professional who will talk about your health and the treatments you want if you get very sick, including whether you want CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) if your heart stops.
2. Your healthcare provider will help you complete the official California POLST form. You will need to obtain and sign the POLST form, along with your doctor or provider.
3. You can get the California POLST form from websites like the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California. The form is often printed on bright pink paper, so it’s easy to find, but any paper works.
4. You can update or cancel your POLST form anytime.
3. Getting an Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD)
An Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) is a legal document that lets you plan your medical care ahead of time in case you can’t make decisions later. In this document, you can:
- Say what kinds of treatments you want or don’t want, like whether you want CPR.
- Pick someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you’re unable to speak for yourself.
Unlike a DNR or POLST, an AHCD isn’t a medical order that emergency workers must follow right away. Instead, it helps doctors and family understand your wishes and who should decide for you if you can’t.
Having an AHCD is important because it makes sure your healthcare choices are known and followed. Be sure to give a copy to your doctor and loved ones so they know what you want.
How to Get an Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD)?
You can follow the steps below to get an Advance Health Care Directive(AHCD) in California:
1. Before filling out any forms, talk to your doctor or nurse to discuss the kind of care you do or don’t want if you get very sick or can’t speak for yourself.
2. Get the AHCD Form to write down your wishes and choose someone you trust to make medical decisions for you in the case you can’t make a decision.
3. Fill out the Form and choose a person (called your “healthcare agent”) to speak on your behalf if needed. Then write your choices about treatments like CPR (if your heart stops), being on a breathing machine, or getting tube feeding.
4. Once you fill out the form, you need to sign it. Someone has to witness you sign to make it legal. You can choose one of these two options:
Option 1: Two Adults Watch You Sign
You can ask two adults to watch you sign the form. They also need to sign it.
These people cannot be:
- The person you chose to make medical decisions for you, or
- Someone who could get your money or property when you die.
Option 2: Go to a Notary
You can take the form to a notary public. A notary is a person who checks your ID and watches you sign to make sure everything is done right. They will also sign and stamp the form.
5. Give a copy to your doctor, the person you chose as your agent, and close family members. Keep a copy at home in a place that’s easy to find in an emergency.
6. If you change your mind, you can cancel or update the form. How to Ensure Your Wishes Are Followed?
How to Ensure Your Wishes Are Followed?
Even with your wishes written down, you still need to take steps to make sure they’re respected.
Here’s how to make sure your decisions are honored when it matters most:
1. Fill Out the Right Forms
Complete legal papers like a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, a POLST form, or an Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD). These forms clearly state what medical care you want or don’t want.
2. Give Copies to Important People
Talk openly about the care you want and give copies of your completed forms to your doctor, the person you chose to make decisions for you (your healthcare agent), and close family or trusted friends. This way, everyone knows your wishes and prevents disputes or confusion in an emergency.
3. Keep Your Forms Easy to Find
Keep a copy of your forms in a safe place that’s easy to find at home, like on your refrigerator or near your phone. If you have a DNR or POLST, consider wearing a medical bracelet or necklace. This helps emergency workers know your wishes quickly if you can’t speak.
4. Update Your Forms When Needed
If your health or wishes change, fill out new forms and share the updated copies with your doctor, healthcare agent, and family. Always destroy old forms or clearly mark them as void.
5. Make Your Wishes Known to Emergency Responders
Make sure emergency responders can see your DNR or POLST form easily during an emergency. Having a visible form or wearing a medical bracelet makes it more likely that your wishes will be followed.
Conclusion
In California, you can legally refuse CPR by completing the right forms, such as a DNR, POLST, or Advance Health Care Directive. These documents ensure doctors and emergency workers know your wishes. It’s important to talk openly with your doctor and family about your decisions. Keep your forms updated and in an easy-to-find place. Wearing a medical bracelet can also help emergency responders quickly see your wishes.
While knowing how to refuse CPR for yourself can be important, being prepared to help others in an emergency who want CPR is just as crucial. That’s why Heart Start CPR offers American Heart Association (AHA) authorized courses like BLS, ACLS, PALS, and First Aid. Our experienced instructors use real-life scenarios and hands-on practice to teach you how to provide care, whether it’s honoring someone’s wishes or saving a life.
If you want to be ready to support yourself and others when it counts, join our BLS class today. We offer training throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, and even Reno, Nevada. Take control of emergencies and enroll in a Heart Start CPR course now.
