Better Than a Living Will
The programs are known as Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or Polst. They are meant to complement advance directives, sometimes known as living wills. A Polst, which is signed by both the patient and the doctor, spells out such choices as whether a patient wants to be on a mechanical breathing machine or feeding tube and receive antibiotics.
Full article on physicians’ efforts in simplifying end-of-life wishes.
I have never heard of this type of form. Thanks for the link.
This raises an important point. A living will (or a do not resuscitate order) are useless unless the medical staff has access to them at precisely the time of need.
Oftentimes, even if there is a Living Will, unless the lawyer is present, family members will defy the wishes of the will out of guilt or other issues and demand that a person be kept on a feeding tube or other device. The doctor, out of fear of being sued, will comply.
I’m in favor of any measure that gives the patient a voice. Too often over the years, I’ve seen family members override the patient’s wishes, essentially forcing treatment and painful procedures on the terminally ill. It can be very selfish to force the dying to stay with us because we aren’t ready to let them go.
Interesting article. Are other companies following Aetna’s direction when it comes to low-income seniors? It would appear that arguments would still arise in low-income families if they could not afford the patient’s wishes.