The POLST paradigm and form:Facts and analysis.
This white paper, prepared by a working group of the Catholic Medical Association, provides a commentary on a new type of end-of-life document called a POLST form (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) as well as on its model (or "paradigm") for implementation across the United States. After an introductory section reviewing the origin, goals, and standard defenses of the POLST paradigm and form, the paper offers a critical analysis of POLST, including an analysis of the risks that POLST poses to sound clinical and ethical decision-making. The paper ends with several recommendations to help Catholic healthcare professionals and institutions better address the challenges of end-of-life care with alternatives to POLST.
St. John Vianney Theological Seminary Denver, CO, USA.
Christian
C
Brugger
Franklin Square Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Louis C
LC
Breschi
Sacred Heart Mercy Health Care Center, Jackson, MN, USA.
Edith Mary
EM
Hart
Nemours Children's Clinic and Florida State University School of Medicine, Pensacola, FL, USA.
Mark
M
Kummer
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
John I
JI
Lane
St. Cloud Regional Medical Center, St. Cloud, FL, USA.
Peter T
PT
Morrow
Aurora Summit Hospital, Summit, WI, USA.
Franklin L
FL
Smith
Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
William L
WL
Toffler
Brookfield, WI.
Marisa
M
Beffel
Ethicist of the Catholic Medical Association, Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA.
John F
JF
Brehany
Appleton, WI.
Sara
S
Buscher
Patients Rights Council, Steubenville, OH, USA.
Rita L
RL
Marker
Advance decision-making; Advance directive; Catholic health care; End of life care; Euthanasia; In-the-moment-of-need medical decision-making; Living will; POLST