A Family’s Story Demonstrates the Importance of POLST

The importance of POLST is most clearly demonstrated by patients and families who want their wishes to be honored. This new video tells the story of Max and his family. When Max was confronted with difficult decisions about the care he wanted in the face of his advancing illness, he took comfort in the fact that his wish for a peaceful, natural death was clearly documented in an Advance Directive. Tragically, Max and his loving family discovered that the Advance Directive did not ensure that these wishes would be honored at a time of medical crisis. As a signed medical order, POLST is honored by EMS and ensures that treatment wishes are respected.