Rapid City, South Dakota — Dr. Reuben Bareis, a retired internal medicine geriatrics physician, is on a mission to educate the public about a new state law that may help people die with dignity.

At nearly 80 years old, the Rapid City man wears a bracelet that alerts emergency medical service providers, hospitals and other medical personal about his cardiopulmonary resuscitation directives and protocols.

“A friend of mine has it tattooed on her chest, ‘Do Not Resuscitate.’ They’re scared to death that they’ll be resuscitated,” Bareis said.

It’s a question about quality of life; lose it “and what do you have left?” he asked.

Last spring, the state Legislature passed a law that provides a database where people can fill out a form about their end-of-life preferences to not be resuscitated. The completed form is then sent to emergency medical service providers, hospitals and physicians. A copy is also filed at the Emergency Medical Services of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety in Pierre.

Read the entire article via the Rapid City Journal.

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