NAC450B.960. Do-not-resuscitate identification: Procedures to be followed by persons who administer emergency medical services.

     1. For a do-not-resuscitate identification or do-not-resuscitate order to be honored by a person who administers emergency medical services, the identification or order must:

     (a) Be in a form approved or issued by a health authority of this state or be a do-not-resuscitate identification or do-not-resuscitate order issued pursuant to the laws of another state;

     (b) Not bear any mark or other indication that the identification or order has been modified or altered; and

     (c) Be in plain sight or be presented to the person who administers emergency medical services by the patient or by another person present at the scene.

     2. A person who administers emergency medical services shall, upon being presented with or upon discovering a do-not-resuscitate identification or do-not-resuscitate order, make a reasonable effort to verify that the identification or order belongs to the patient. If the person who administers emergency medical services determines that the identification or order belongs to the patient, the person who administers emergency medical services shall:

     (a) Provide appropriate emergency medical or supportive care if the patient is not experiencing cardiac or respiratory arrest;

     (b) Withhold life-resuscitating treatment from a patient if the patient is experiencing cardiac or respiratory arrest; and

     (c) Closely observe the patient for any indication that the patient is attempting to remove or destroy the identification or order, thus invalidating the identification pursuant to NRS 450B.530, or is otherwise indicating that the patient wishes to revoke the authorization to withhold life-resuscitating treatment. Upon observing such an attempt by the patient, the person who administers emergency medical services shall attempt to communicate with the patient to confirm that the patient wishes to revoke the authorization to withhold life-resuscitating treatment. If the person who administers emergency medical services confirms that the patient wishes to revoke the authorization to withhold life-resuscitating treatment, the person who administers emergency medical services shall inform subsequent providers of medical care that the patient has so indicated and shall document in the report of emergency care the name and identifying number that is unique to the patient and any action or request made by the patient that indicated that the patient wishes to revoke the authorization to withhold life-resuscitating treatment.

     3. If the person who administers emergency medical services to a patient with a do-not-resuscitate identification or do-not-resuscitate order is unable or unwilling to comply with paragraph (b) of subsection 2, the person shall promptly:

     (a) Transfer care of the patient to a person who administers emergency medical services who is able and willing to comply with paragraph (b) of subsection 2; or

     (b) Transport the patient to a physician or health care facility at which the do-not-resuscitate protocol may be followed.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R043-98, eff. 5-18-98; A by R182-01, 3-5-2002)