Coronavirus: GP Practice Asks Sickest Patients To Sign 'Do Not Resuscitate' Form
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A GP surgery left some some of its sickest patients distressed after encouraging them to sign ‘do not resuscitate’ orders amid the coronavirus crisis.
Llynfi Surgery, in south Wales, has apologised after sending letters to some seriously ill patients underlining “several benefits” of completing “do not attempt CPR” forms.
The letter warns that, as hospitals are inundated with Covid-19 patients, those with serious conditions such as incurable cancer, motor neurone disease, and untreatable heart and lung conditions were “unlikely to be offered hospital admissions” and “certainly will not be offered a ventilator bed”.
It goes on to ask the patients to complete the form as “scarce ambulance resources can be targeted to the young and fit who have a greater chance” of recovering from the virus.
Chris Elmore, the Labour MP for Ogmore, and Welsh Assembly Member Huw Irranca-Davies say they were “deeply concerned” on Monday when they were contacted by a number of “worried constituents” in “distress” over the GPs’ plea.
Elmore said health chiefs from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board were now “reaching out to those patients who received the original letter” to “offer compassionate and sound advice” about the crisis.
“We are of course deeply concerned by the content of the original letter and the distress it has caused our constituents and their families,” the two politicians said in a joint statement.
“These vulnerable members of our community need to be provided with the best advice possible during the pandemic, ensuring they are treated with care and compassion and respect, and following the correct public health advice.
“We sincerely hope Llynfi surgery and the health board provide that reassurance quickly.”
The letter sent out by the practice last week reads: “This is a very...
