A superfit Glasgow primary school teacher with a heart condition was horrified to find that her medical records instructed paramedics to not resuscitate her if she suffered a cardiac arrest.
Fiona McVey is now challenging health authorities and demanding to know if they are marking files with such instructions to combat the current NHS crisis.
The primary school teacher from Clydebank was rushed to hospital after an infection resulted in a heart arrhythmia flaring up, reports the Daily Record.
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Fiona was left speechless when a paramedic revealed that her medical records were marked in February 2020 with a DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) which meant she would be left to die if she had a cardiac arrest.
Her husband Scott followed the ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in case the unthinkable happened.
The teacher received straight forward treatment and was on her way home six hours later after being admitted last Wednesday.
She said: “I was horrified to see that I was marked up as someone that should not be resuscitated.
"I am just 44 and I love life. I have a heart condition so having a cardiac arrest is something I have had to think about – but I most certainly want medics to do all they can to bring me around if that ever had to happen.”
Fiona was shocked when a medic at the hospital told her that all patients with serious heart and lung conditions were being marked as DNACPR, whether they had discussed it or not. She said: “My GP and the hospital said they do not have the DNACPR on their file and that it must just be the emergency ambulance service.
“One professional I spoke to said that people over 55 and people with serious heart and lung conditions were being marked up like that. I read several stories during the Covid crisis about similar stuff happening and I would be horrified to think that there has been some kind of policy shift that might lead to people being allowed to die.”
The mum-of-one was enjoying some skiing in Bearsden this week and regularly enjoys gymnastics, badminton and other sports.
Her heart condition has resulted in the occasional atrial fibrillation, which makes the heart beat erratically, but can be controlled by medication.
Fiona is now calling for an urgent investigation to be carried out.
The 44-year-old said: “If a blanket DNACPR has been issued for large groups of people without their knowledge and consent, then people need to know.
"I have contacted my GP and health board. My GP has told me that they will try to get it removed, and the health board have not responded. Meanwhile I am left feeling very anxious that I will not receive CPR if I were to need it.”
Age Concern Scotland previously demanded an investigation after it became clear that many older patients were being classified as DNACPR.
Chief Executive Mark O’Donnell said his body's calls for DNARs to be a key focus of the inquiry into Scotland’s Covid deaths have been heeded. He said: “It is deeply concerning that we are still hearing instances of patients discovering that a DNAR order has been applied to them without their knowledge, and, on the face of it, no logical reason for this to be the case.”
He added: “No one should be made to feel that their lives and wishes somehow matter less than others. It begs the question of how many more people across the country are affected by this, who would only discover in an emergency situation that they have already effectively been written off.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) spokesman said: “The SAS has no role in determining which patients have a DNACPR certificate in place.
“Such decisions are only made between individual patients, families, or carers and the clinicians responsible for their ongoing care and treatment. We do not recognise the comments relating to either clinical conditions or patient age attributed to a medical professional.
“These comments are completely inaccurate and do not reflect in any way SAS clinical practice.”
A NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGCC) spokesperson said: “We are sorry for any distress which may have been caused to Ms McVey and would be keen for her to get in touch to discuss her care experience. Following a full review, we can confirm a DNACPR did not originate from NHSGGC services, however, we are working with Scottish Ambulance Service to review the details of this case.
“Under no circumstances is a blanket approach ever taken with DNACPRs... in making a DNACPR decision our clinicians will consider every patient on an individual basis.
“At all times these decisions are based on the individual patient’s best interests. While CPR is unlikely to be of any benefit in some patient groups, we appreciate a DNACPR order can be very difficult for a patient and their family and our clinicians involve them in such decisions.”
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