Physician's Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
If a medical condition prevents you from communicating your preferences regarding medical care, a Physician’s Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) can legally communicate your preferences to a healthcare provider.
You can create a POLST in cooperation with with your doctor and turn your preferences into standing medical orders which become a permanent part of your medical record. A POLST covers life-sustaining treatment in emergency situations such as CPR, Do Not Resuscitate Orders, degree of medical intervention, use of antibiotics, and artificially administered nutrition—not just end-of-life situations.
