Creating POLST Forms

POLST stands for Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment. These are forms that are created by you and your doctor and will inform emergency care providers as to which treatments you want and don't want in a medical emergency. There are a variety of different POLST forms which could be extremely important in a medical emergency.

If you have strong preferences about how you are treated in a medical emergency, don't hesitate to contact an estate planning lawyer and create these forms. For example, you can create a Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR order) if you would prefer.

You can then get this order signed by a doctor or instruct emergency medical teams as to whether or not to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR.) POLST forms can also address other medical procedures. Sometimes, individuals have strong opinions on antibiotic use, feeding tubes, and intubation. POLST forms are available in almost half of the United States and they can also go by a variety of different names.

Other names for POLST forms include:

• MOLST
• POST
• COLST
• TPOPP
• LaPOST

Don't hesitate to contact an attorney at the firm today if you want more information. With the right lawyer on your side, you can create these forms in a way that will govern your medical treatment if you are not able to speak for yourself in an emergency. You will want to create a POLST form when you enter a hospital, hospice, or any other health care setting.

Normally, the staff at the medical facility will ask you if you would like to create a POLST form and you can discuss your health wishes with a medical provider. The medical provider must also sign the form after it is created. If no one asks you whether you want to create a POLST, you can ask for one. As long as the form is available in your state, a staff member can help you with it. Contact a local estate lawyer for more information!