Discharge summary information: more than DVT warnings needed

My out-of-hours duty shift today echoed this article.¹ While recognising that usually it should be the family and perhaps the family doctor to get involved proactively, perhaps we should suggest to our colleagues in hospital that it would be far more useful on discharge summaries of the frail and declining group of patients that end-of-life care, choice of place to die, wishes for readmission, and do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) had all been discussed rather than documenting that they have been warned about DVT.

In my personal view we should also move away from the need to have a DNAR form to allow someone to peacefully die. Putting these responsibilities onto the visiting out-of-hours team with no prior knowledge is neither safe or fair.