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I know you're kidding, but really, the only reliable way to ensure DNR wishes are carried out in the USA is by having a notarized "health care directives" document drawn up by an elderlaw attorney and have it filed with your hospital in advance by you or a loved one that has power-of-attorney over you (which itself requires a document from an elderlaw attorney).

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And what if you are hospitalized by another hospital? Seems like that's what happened to this guy. If he didn't have that tattoo they wouldn't have even bothered to figure out if he had a valid DNR document before resuscitating him.

Well, if you can't get the DNR document filed at the hospital (or a loved one isn't there to provide it immediately upon arrival)... the hospital will resuscitate, AFAIK.

Tattoos are really great signalling for motorocycle gangs and hipsters, but the nuances that one can use to discern satire, hubris, or seriousness just don't work well in an emergency room.

It's a statewide database

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