Out of Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Program

The Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate program allows people to decide that certain resuscitative measures will not be used on them. Those resuscitative measures specifically listed in the OOH DNR legislation are cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), advanced airway management, defibrillation, artificial ventilations, and transcutaneous cardiac pacing.

Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate Form

An OOH DNR Order form must be properly executed in accordance with the instructions on the opposite side to be considered a valid form by emergency medical services personnel.

Specifications Regarding the Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate (OOH DNR) Form:

  • The OOH DNR Order form is on standard letter-size paper, 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches.
  • The form can be copied and used as an original.
  • The form should be printed with the OOH DNR Order form on the front and the instructions on the back of the sheet.
  • Copies of an executed DSHS Standard OOH DNR Order can be made and are legal, binding documents.

Print Form

Health Care Professionals

If you are distributing blank OOH DNR forms to be filled out by patients, families, and doctors, the blank form must include the OOH DNR form on one side and the instructions on the other side.  In the instructions, there is some information required by law that must be made available to the patient, family, witnesses, and doctors before the form is signed.

Emergency medical services personnel can honor an OOH DNR form that appears to have been properly executed, even if the instructions are not on the opposite side.

HONORING A DIRECTIVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFENSE OF AIDING SUICIDE.  A person does not commit an offense under Section 22.08, Penal Code, by withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment from a qualified patient in accordance with this subchapter. (Health and Safety Code 166.047).

Ordering Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate (OOH-DNR) Devices

After completing the Texas OOH DNR Order form, the patient may obtain, at the patient's expense, an optional means of identification. The OOH DNR ID device may only be obtained after fully executing the Texas OOH DNR Order form.

Specifications

(1) An intact, unaltered, easily identifiable plastic identification OOH DNR bracelet, with the word "Texas" (or a representation of the geographical shape of Texas and the word "STOP" imposed over the shape) and the words "Do Not Resuscitate," shall be honored by qualified EMS personnel in lieu of an original OOH DNR Order form.

OR

(2) An intact, unaltered, easily identifiable metal bracelet or necklace inscribed with the words "Texas Do Not Resuscitate - OOH" shall be honored by qualified EMS personnel in lieu of an OOH DNR Order form. 

Approved Manufacturers for Vinyl Bracelets

Texas Medical Association
ATTN: DNR form
401 W. 15th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
Order line: 
800-880-1300 

Approved Manufacturers of Metal Devices

American Medical Identifications, Inc.
Suite 100
949 Wakefield
Houston, Texas 77018
800-363-5985
Website: American Medical Identifications, Inc.

MedicAlert Foundation, Inc.
101 Lander Ave
Turlock, California 95380
800-432-5378
Website: MedicAlert Foundation, Inc.

Caring Advocates
2730 Argonauta St
Carlsbad, California 92009
800-647-3223
Website: Caring Advocates

StickyJ Medical ID
10801 Endeavour Way #B
Seminole FL 33777
866-497-6265
Email: CustomerService@StickyJ.com
Website: StickyJ Medical ID

Empower Hope, Inc
304 S Jones, Suite 1061
Las Vegas, NV 89107
415-200-3780
Email: DNR@empowerhope.ai
Website: Empower Hope, Inc

Prices may vary between vendors. Contact vendors for information.
External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of Health. These sites may also not be accessible to persons with disabilities.

Advanced Directives Links

Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Legislation

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