Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

A POLST gives you the opportunity to choose which life-sustaining measures you do, or do not want, if a medical emergency occurs outside of a hospital.   It is a portable medical order, signed by a you and a medical professional.  It gives direction to emergency medical personnel and your loved ones as to what care you want in the event of a medical emergency.    Typically, a POLST is posted on the front of your refrigerator or freezer door for EMT to easily access.

A POLST is an optional choice for those wanting to limit care, die a natural death and protect their autonomy at end-of-life. While CPR and other life-saving measures are appropriate for many, for those living with illness or near the end of life, treatments can sometimes be traumatic or ineffective and not worth the risk of impacting their quality of life.