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A.R.S. § 36-3251

Prehospital Medical Care Directives (DNR)

Verified April 4, 202657th Legislature, 1st Regular Session

Arizona allows you to sign a prehospital medical care directive, commonly called a DNR. This document tells emergency medical personnel to withhold CPR and related resuscitation measures. It applies if your heart stops or you stop breathing. It must be printed on orange paper and requires a physician's signature.

Title 36, LIVING WILLS AND HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES

azleg.gov

What a Prehospital Medical Care Directive Covers

This is Arizona's version of a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order for out-of-hospital emergencies. Paramedics or emergency responders who arrive at a cardiac or respiratory arrest scene normally start resuscitation right away.

A prehospital medical care directive tells them not to. This is one of the most significant medical steps a person can refuse in advance.

A person may execute a prehospital medical care directive that, in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest, directs the withholding of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by emergency medical system personnel, hospital emergency department personnel and, as provided in subsection L of this section, direct care staff persons.

A.R.S. § 36-3251(A)

The directive covers cardiac compression, intubation, advanced airway management, artificial ventilation, defibrillation, and emergency cardiac drugs. It does not cover comfort care measures like intravenous fluids, oxygen, or pain medication.

The Orange Paper Requirement

Arizona requires the directive to be printed on an orange background. This is not just a suggestion. The color serves a practical purpose.

It helps first responders identify the document in seconds, without reading through a stack of papers. You can also wear a bracelet on your wrist or ankle with "Do Not Resuscitate" on an orange background.

You must sign the directive, or your healthcare agent or guardian can sign if you cannot. A licensed healthcare provider who has explained the consequences must also sign. A witness must sign as well.

The document is valid under Arizona law until revoked or replaced. To be valid, you must sign it of sound mind and free from coercion.

Immunity and Good Faith Reliance

Emergency responders who try in good faith to identify a patient and rely on a genuine directive are protected from liability. If there is any doubt about the document or the medical situation, responders proceed with resuscitation.

The law prioritizes saving lives when the situation is unclear.

36-3251. Prehospital medical care directives; form; effect; immunity; definitions A. Notwithstanding any law or a health care directive to the contrary, a person may execute a prehospital medical care directive that, in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest, directs the withholding of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by emergency medical system personnel, hospital emergency department personnel and, as provided in subsection L of this section, direct care staff persons. B. A prehospital medical care directive shall be printed on an orange background and may be used in either letter or wallet size. C. A person who has a valid prehospital medical care directive pursuant to this section may wear an identifying bracelet on either the wrist or the ankle. D. If the person has designated an agent to make health care decisions under section 36-3221 or has been appointed a guardian for health care decisions pursuant to title 14, that agent or guardian shall sign if the person is no longer competent to do so. E. A prehospital medical care directive is effective until it is revoked or superseded by a new document. F. Emergency medical system personnel, hospital emergency department personnel and direct care staff persons who make a good faith effort to identify the patient and who rely on an apparently genuine directive or a photocopy of a directive on orange paper are immune from liability to the same extent and under the same conditions as prescribed in section 36-3205. G. In the absence of a physician, a person without vital signs who is not resuscitated pursuant to a prehospital medical care directive may be pronounced dead by any peace officer of this state, a professional nurse licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 15 or an emergency medical technician certified pursuant to this title. H. This section does not apply to situations involving mass casualties or to medical emergencies involving children and adults with disabil...

This page provides general legal information about Arizona statutes and is not legal advice. For guidance on how this law applies to your situation, speak with a qualified attorney.

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