LiveStrong or Die Now?

If you're sporting one of those yellow LiveStrong bracelets, you might want to take it off before visiting your local hospital. The Associated Press says the Tampa, Fla.-based BayCare Health Systems hospital chain has started taping over the yellow bracelets because, at BayCare outlets, a yellow bracelet is synonymous with a "do not resuscitate" order. That's right. Yellow = Don't bring me back under any circumstances.

The AP says the measure is proactive -- no one has been offed because of a mix-up. "We wouldn't want to mistake a Lance Armstrong bracelet and not resuscitate someone we're supposed to," says Lisa Johnson, vice president of patient services at one of BayCare's health centers.

Lisa, that's why you get the big money.

The AP notes that not all hospitals use the same color coding system. Nonetheless, it's best to check because dying sucks even when irony is involved. -- Mac

Posted by Mac at December 11, 2004 10:48 PM