Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) last year became a legally recognized document, similar to the widely used “do not resuscitate” (DNR) orders. The POLST form, used for patients with a serious illness or whose life expectancy is a year or less, outlines a plan of care reflecting the patient’s wishes concerning medical treatment and interventions at life’s end. The POLST form complements an advance directive by turning a patient’s treatment preferences into actionable medical orders.

For more information, see the California Medical Association’s POLST kit. The kit includes legal forms and wallet identification cards, and answers frequently asked questions about end-of-life issues. CMA encourages physicians to keep a supply of forms in their offices for patient use.

POLST kits are available in both English and Spanish and can be purchased from CMA’s online bookstore. Single copies are $5 for members, $6 for nonmembers. Significant discounts are available on bulk purchases. Order 10 kits and members pay $2.13 each. Order 100 and pay just $1.53 per kit. (To receive your member discount, be sure to log in before you place the items in your shopping cart.)

Contact: Samantha Pellon, 916/551-2872 or spellon@cmanet.org.