A woman said she was left "horrified", "cross and sad" after a hospital put a "Do Not Resuscitate" instruction on her elderly father's medical notes and she only discovered it months later.
Rev Debbi Turley was surprised to find out that her dad Jim Turley, 86, had agreed to a DNR instruction as she says he would have not understood what he was signing due to his dementia.
Mr Turley was admitted to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton on August 9 and was seen in A&E before being given a bed in one of the wards whilst suffering with delirium, dehydration and undiagnosed dementia.
While in hospital, the patient signed a DNR form, meaning doctors would not attempt to save him if he stopped breathing or his heart stopped beating.
His vicar daughter only discovered the medical instruction by chance last Tuesday, when her father was moving hospitals due to weight loss.
Rev Turley, from Taunton, Somerset, said: "Dad went into hospital on August 9 with delirium and dehydration. He also has undiagnosed dementia.
"He lost about four stone in Musgrove and was moved to Bridgwater last Tuesday (November 29). They gave me a form, which I presumed was for an appointment.
"But when I saw DNR I was a little bit horrified. It was done when he went into Musgrove on August 9, when he didn't know where he was. He ticked a box, but he wasn't of sound mind at the time.
"A man who didn't have the capacity to know what he was doing was asked about a DNR.
"I was there a lot of the time and they didn't ask or tell me about it."
The Rev Turley said she has since tried unsuccessfully to get the DNR taken off her father's notes.
She added: "They told me dad has to give the instruction, but he's not capable of doing that.
"I've made a complaint, but they say without dad's permission they can't take it further.
"I've always loved Musgrove, but this makes me very cross and sad."
She added: "I want other people to know. They could do this to other elderly people without their loved ones knowing.
"My dad's got a healthy heart and he's got a lot of living to do."
A spokesperson for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Musgrove Park Hospital, said: "We are aware of the concerns that the Rev Turley has raised and our patient advice and liaison service has been in touch to arrange a meeting to talk through the concerns raised."
