South Carolina DNR Form: How to Get a Do Not Resuscitate Order

A living will won't stop EMS from performing CPR if they arrive at your home. First responders are legally required to resuscitate unless they see an official South Carolina Emergency Medical Services Do Not Resuscitate Order — Form D-3462, issued by the Department of Public Health.

This is one of the most commonly misunderstood distinctions in advance care planning. Your living will instructs hospital physicians. A DNR order instructs the paramedics who show up at your door.

How the South Carolina EMS DNR Works

The EMS DNR order (Form D-3462) is a medical order — not a legal document you fill out yourself. It must be signed by a licensed physician, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), or Physician Assistant (PA) along with the patient or their legally authorized representative.

Once executed, the order instructs emergency medical personnel to withhold:

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Defibrillation
• Endotracheal intubation
• Assisted ventilation

The form must be immediately accessible during a home emergency. EMS personnel are trained to look for it, but they won't search your filing cabinet. The order should be posted in a visible location — many families tape it to the refrigerator or the inside of the front door.

DNR Bracelets in South Carolina

South Carolina recognizes approved DNR bracelets and necklaces as valid identification. If EMS encounters a patient wearing an approved DNR bracelet, they must honor the do-not-resuscitate order even if the paper form isn't visible.

The bracelet must conform to state-approved specifications — not all medical alert jewelry qualifies. Your physician's office or the South Carolina Department of Public Health can direct you to approved vendors.

DNR vs. Living Will vs. POST: Key Differences

These three documents serve different purposes and are not interchangeable:

The POST form (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment, Form D-4061) is the broadest. It covers a full range of treatment preferences — resuscitation, hospital transfers, antibiotics, IV fluids, and feeding — and follows you across care settings. The DNR order is narrower: it addresses only resuscitation during a cardiac or respiratory arrest.

How to Get a DNR Order in South Carolina

1. Talk to your physician about whether a DNR order aligns with your medical situation and end-of-life goals
2. Your physician completes Form D-3462 — you cannot fill this out yourself
3. Both you and your physician sign — or your legally authorized representative signs on your behalf if you lack capacity
4. Post the form visibly at home and consider an approved DNR bracelet for when you're outside
5. Inform your healthcare agent so they're not blindsided if EMS arrives

If you also have a POST form, ensure both documents are consistent. Conflicting instructions — a POST form requesting full treatment but a DNR order requesting no resuscitation — create confusion that delays care.

Revoking a DNR Order

You can revoke a DNR order at any time by:

• Physically destroying the form and removing any DNR bracelet
• Verbally telling medical personnel you want to be resuscitated
• Having your healthcare agent revoke the order

If you revoke the DNR, inform your physician immediately so their records are updated. EMS personnel will always attempt resuscitation if they can't locate a valid DNR order.

A DNR order is just one piece of a comprehensive advance care plan. The South Carolina Advance Directive & Living Will Kit includes guidance on coordinating your living will, healthcare power of attorney, and DNR/POST forms so every document works together without contradictions.

See more South Carolina guides →