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A Tennessee advance directive is a document used to inform medical staff on how to treat a person in case that person is incapacitated. An advance directive allows health planning by choosing an agent, selecting medical care, organ donation, and post-death instructions.

A POLST form does NOT replace an advance directive. An advance directive is the way to appoint a legal Health Care Agent, and is recommended for all adults. A POLST can work together with your advance directive, providing specific detail regarding treatment wishes.

You can use the Advance Directive for Health Care form to tell your doctor you want to avoid life-prolonging interventions such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), kidney dialysis or breathing machines. You can use this form to tell your doctor you just want to be pain free and comfortable at the end of life.

POLST is for people who are seriously ill or have advanced frailty. If you are healthy, an advance directive is for you. POLST forms and advance directives are both parts of advance care planning but they are not the same. POLST forms must be filled out and signed by health care provider.

While an Advance Directive is a comprehensive document that covers a wide range of healthcare decisions, a POLST form is focused on end-of-life decisions that require immediate medical attention. For instance, it may specify whether you want to receive CPR, antibiotics, or be put on a ventilator.

A POLST is a legal binding document and an advance medical directive is not. A POLST is a form of medical orders, while an advance medical directive is used when a patient cannot speak for themselves. Health care providers must follow the POLST, whereas they do not need to follow advance medical directive.