Readers React: The POLST form and end-of-life decisions
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To the editor: The POLST form (Practitioner’s Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) helps individuals with life-threatening illnesses control their care. It was never intended for those like Mattlin with chronic but not terminal illnesses. Such patients should use an advance directive, which is designed for a broader range of scenarios. (“Beware the rush to help people die,” Op-Ed, July 2)
Mattlin ignores the fact that the POLST form includes a “full treatment” option for those who want aggressive care at the end of life.
In addition, he misleadingly claims that “the forms are standardized, not tailored to the patient.” Each component of the form has a blank entry for “additional orders” to individualize care.
Like any good tool, the POLST might be misused (although Mattlin fails to cite a single example). It addresses the unfortunate reality that those with terminal illness often don’t receive the care they want and many suffer unnecessarily at the end of life.
Unrealistic fears should not deter these patients from acting to ensure that their wishes will be respected.
Daniel J. Stone, MD, Beverly Hills
The writer is medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Group.
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