Joy Tomkins, 81, Shows Off Her 'Do Not Resuscitate' Tattoo (Photo)

81-Year-Old Woman Gets 'Do Not Resuscitate' Tattoo

81-year-old Joy Tomkins has a "do not resuscitate" tattoo on her chest in an attempt to persuade doctors to allow her to die if she becomes seriously ill.

The Norfolk pensioner has the tattoo as well as 'P.T.O.' (Please Turn Over) and an arrow inked onto her back in case attempts are made to revive her in her dying moments.

Tomkins has had a living will for the past 30 years detailing her wish to be allowed to die, should she fall seriously ill. Now, with her tattoos, she says there's "no excuse" for not knowing her wishes. She was put off the idea of battling on to the end of her days by her mother-in law:

"What do you think I'm going to do with the frightful thought of getting to 100? My mother-in-law lived to be 106 and in the last six years of her life she'd have been much better dead. She was miserable."

She said her wish not be resuscitated would "save money" for the NHS.

Dr Anna Smajdor, a lecturer in medical ethics at the University of East Anglia told the BBC that the tattoos were not effective "as a sole way of ensuring wishes are fulfilled" as they would "not be legally binding".

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