Weird ER Experience with a Cardiac Arrest
So, I recently had a cardiac arrest on a patient over 80 years old, down for minimum of 10 minutes before we got there, cyanotic and pulseless, initial rhythm of PEA, worked her for 17 minutes with a LUCAS, gave one round of epi, gave 50 of sodium bicarbonate, intubated, and we got a pulse back with sinus tachycardia as the 12-Lead showed. BP was good and pulse stayed present until after we got to the ER (patient coded before we cleared the hospital and family did not want her resuscitated).
Anyway, two weird things happened:
Family did not want her resuscitated which makes sense, she was over 80. However, when asked about an OOH DNR, they said they didn't have one but that we still shouldn't resuscitate because she's a DNR in hospital. Obviously, no OOH DNR means resuscitation efforts must be given.
When we got to the ER, we still had the LUCAS on in case pulse was lost and we needed to start it back up again which, thankfully, pulse stayed steady for the 10 minute ride to the hospital and as we rolled her into the ER, I called out that we fot ROSC at 1149. However, my partner overheard a nurse say, and I quote, "they dont even have the LUCAS turned on" which, why would we? Patient has a pulse right now and I literally called that out as we rolled in. Then, as I was giving report and stating the meds given and everything else, they realize they know this patient (I have personally picked her up twice and I know others have, too) and that she has a DNR in place and they start acting like I broke the law by bringing her back at which point, I said that the patient's family could not produce and did not know what an OOH DNR order was. And, apparently, they didn't believe we got a pulse back because RT in the room said "Oh, shoot, she does have a pulse," like, yes, she's pink now rather than blue. Anyway, I didn't get to finish giving a complete report because they started questioning me not about interventions and down time but like they were planning an inquisition into my competency and were already heckling me before they even got the full story like receiving the story wasnt their job. Heck, the doctor was asking questions like I was too stupid to understand what a DNR is when she was the last doctor the patient saw and like she shouldn't know whether the patient has an active OOH DNR if she recognized the patient so easily.
I guess the point of this long rant is to ask whether anyone has experienced something similar while bringing in codes to the ER? Or is this a particularly niche situation I experienced?
My supervisor thought it went great, at least, and the firefighter we brought for assistance and my partner, a brand new EMT, thought it went smoothly and like I had everything under control as lead medic.
Edit: regarding my state, OOH DNR with a stamped seal and doc's signature is required to deny resuscitation and an in hospital DNR is not good enough and family saying "no" is not enough, either. As for my company's medical control, they are there as a placeholder, really. I have the number but there is an understanding with our company that we're not supposed to call him. I know, stupid, but that's how it works in my are with all EMS companies: don't call the doctor.