Criteria for Death/Withholding Resuscitation

Under what two circumstances may CPR and ALS treatments be withheld?

If the patient is obviously dead per criteria, or a valid State of Texas Do Not Resuscitate form is present

What is considered as valid as a DNR form if found on the patient's body?

A Texas Out of Hospital DNR bracelet or necklace

What burn finding allows withholding resuscitation?

Burns to entire body

What anatomic finding allows withholding resuscitation?

Decapitation

What postmortem finding allows withholding resuscitation?

Rigor mortis

What penetrating injury finding allows withholding resuscitation?

Penetrating injuries to the chest or head with asystole verified in two leads

What other postmortem finding allows withholding resuscitation?

Post-mortem lividity

What general injury finding allows withholding resuscitation?

Injury incompatible with life

What head injury finding allows withholding resuscitation?

Open head trauma

What specific head injury allows withholding resuscitation?

GSW to the head

What anatomic finding involving the torso allows withholding resuscitation?

Hemicorporectomy

What family circumstance allows withholding resuscitation absent a DNR?

If no DNR but family requests termination of efforts

What should NOT be done with a body after a vehicular or industrial accident death, unless necessary?

Do not move the body unless necessary to resuscitate a living person, or if the body will be significantly destroyed by fire, explosion, etc.

What should be done with the body after a vehicular or industrial accident death, if appropriate?

Cover the body, if appropriate or directed by law enforcement personnel

What should be preserved after a vehicular or industrial accident death?

The accident scene, as best as possible

Who should be kept away from a vehicular or industrial accident death scene?

Spectators

Who must be notified as soon as possible after a vehicular or industrial accident death?

The dispatcher

What agency must also be notified after a vehicular or industrial accident death?

Law enforcement

What should NOT be disturbed for deaths occurring at home, both natural and homicide?

Anything at the scene

What should be done if the scene of a death at home is unstable?

Move to a position of safety

Who must be notified as soon as possible for a death occurring at home?

The dispatcher

What must be reported to the first arriving officer regarding a death scene?

Any unusual or suspicious circumstances, documented in detail

What down time makes resuscitation withholding contraindicated?

Patient down time is less than 20 minutes

What down time determination issue makes resuscitation withholding contraindicated?

Down time cannot be reliably determined

What rhythm verification issue makes resuscitation withholding contraindicated?

Asystole cannot be verified in two leads

What environmental condition makes resuscitation withholding contraindicated?

Hypothermia is present

What patient condition makes resuscitation withholding contraindicated?

Pregnancy

What general circumstance makes resuscitation withholding contraindicated?

Any doubt exists