Indiana uses an official document called the Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate (OHDNR) Declaration and Order. You can download this form directly from the Indiana state government website at forms.in.gov. The form is free, but it requires specific signatures and qualifications before it becomes legally valid.
Who Qualifies to Sign the Form
Not everyone can execute an Indiana OHDNR. You must meet three requirements: you must be at least 18 years old, be of sound mind, and have a qualifying medical condition. That condition means either a terminal diagnosis or a medical situation where, if your heart or breathing stopped, resuscitation would be unsuccessful or would only lead to repeated cardiac or pulmonary failure ending in death.
Your attending physician (or, as of July 1, 2021, an advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant) must formally certify that you meet these medical criteria before signing the order. You cannot simply fill out the form on your own and have it be valid.
What Makes the Form Legally Valid
The Indiana OHDNR requires three sets of signatures to take effect:
- The declarant: You sign the form yourself, declaring your wishes.
- Two witnesses: Both must personally know you and believe you are of sound mind. Neither witness can be your parent, spouse, or child. They cannot be entitled to any part of your estate or be directly financially responsible for your medical care. Both must be at least 18 and competent.
- The physician, APRN, or PA: The medical provider signs the order and includes their medical license number, certifying you as a qualified person and directing other providers not to initiate or continue CPR.
The form takes effect the moment it is fully executed and remains in effect until you die or revoke it. There is no expiration date.
How EMS Recognizes the Form
Indiana paramedics and EMTs are trained to honor a valid OHDNR. A copy of the form is sufficient; you do not need to present the original. This is important because many people keep copies in multiple locations, such as on the refrigerator, in a medical file, or with a caregiver.
If emergency responders arrive and cannot locate the form or any identification indicating a DNR is in place, they will begin resuscitation by default. Keeping the document somewhere visible and accessible in your home matters more than most people realize.
How to Revoke the Order
You can cancel your OHDNR at any time using any of three methods: signing and dating a written revocation, physically destroying the document (or having someone destroy it in your presence at your direction), or simply telling a healthcare provider you want to revoke it. An oral statement is enough.
The revocation becomes effective as soon as it is communicated to a healthcare provider. If you are incapacitated and cannot speak for yourself, your legal representative can revoke it on your behalf. If you have no representative available, Indiana law allows a proxy with legal priority to step in and revoke the order.
OHDNR vs. POST Form
Indiana also has a Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) form, and the two are sometimes confused. They serve different purposes.
The OHDNR is narrow: it addresses only what happens if your heart or breathing stops outside a hospital. The POST is broader. It guides treatment from the moment it is signed, covering decisions about CPR, hospital transfers, feeding tubes, and other interventions. The POST applies in all healthcare settings, not just out-of-hospital emergencies.
Eligibility also differs slightly. The OHDNR requires a terminal condition or a condition where surviving cardiac or pulmonary failure is unlikely. The POST is available to people with those same conditions plus anyone with an advanced chronic progressive illness or significant frailty. Both forms require a signature from a physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant. Both can and should be honored by EMS, but a POST form missing either the patient’s signature (Section E) or the provider’s signature (Section F) is not valid.
DNR Orders for Children
The standard OHDNR form is designed for adults 18 and older. For minors, the process is different and more restricted. If a child is under the care of the Indiana Department of Child Services, neither DCS staff, foster parents, nor court-appointed advocates have the authority to authorize a DNR. That decision must go through the juvenile court. The child’s attending physician provides a written recommendation and supporting documentation, and if parental rights have not been terminated, the parents’ opinions are included in the report to the judge.
Where to Get the Form
The official Indiana OHDNR form is available for free download from the state government’s forms portal at forms.in.gov (document ID 5596). You can also request a copy through your physician’s office, hospital, or hospice provider. Once downloaded, print it, bring it to your medical provider to discuss your eligibility, and arrange for the required signatures. Keep signed copies in your home, with your caregivers, and in your medical records.