Highlight In Legal Tennessee Life Documents New Parents Forms For Free

Is POLST required by law? Filling out a POLST form is entirely voluntary, but California law requires that the physician orders in a POLST be followed by healthcare providers.

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.

A Tennessee Living Will is a legal document that outlines your preferences with regard to health care, such as your refusal of or request for a specific medical treatment, in addition to the (optional) naming of a chosen healthcare agent.

The most common types of advance directives are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care (sometimes known as the medical power of attorney). There are many advance directive formats.

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.

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.