If you’ve ever had to make decisions about medical care for yourself or a loved one, you know how overwhelming it can be. You might hear doctors or social workers talk about a POLST form and wonder what that even means. Maybe someone handed you a packet of papers when a family member got sick, and you weren’t sure whether to sign it. So, what is a POLST form, who should have one, and how does it affect medical treatment?
What is a POLST Form?
POLST stands for Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. Think of it as a special set of doctor’s orders. It tells emergency responders, doctors, and nurses exactly what you want — or don’t want — when it comes to life-saving treatments.
Unlike a living will or advance directive, a POLST form is immediately actionable. It gives direct orders to healthcare providers about:
- when to start CPR if your heart stops
- when to put you on a breathing machine
- the kind of medical interventions you want if you’re seriously ill
In Arizona, POLST forms are often called “Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment” (MOLST), but most people and healthcare workers still call them POLST. The Arizona version is recognized under A.R.S. § 36-3251, defining healthcare directives and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders.
Who Should Have a POLST Form?
Here’s the thing: not everyone needs a POLST form. If you’re young and healthy, you probably don’t need to worry about this right now. POLST forms honor the medical wishes of patients under any of the following conditions:
- a life-threatening illness
- advanced frailty
- near the end of life
Here are some examples of who might consider a POLST form in Arizona:
- An 85-year-old man with advanced heart failure who does not want to be placed on life support.
- A woman with terminal cancer who wants comfort care at home but no aggressive treatment if her condition worsens.
- A man with advanced Alzheimer’s disease who doesn’t want CPR if his heart stops.
If you or a loved one fit into one of these groups, a POLST form could be one of the most important documents you have.
What is Included in a POLST Form?
Let’s take a closer look. A typical Arizona POLST form (based on state guidelines) includes three main sections:
| Section | What It Covers | Choices You Can Make |
| Section A: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | What to do if your heart stops or you stop breathing. | Attempt Resuscitation (CPR) or Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). |
| Section B: Medical Interventions | What level of medical care you want if you are still breathing but very ill. | Full Treatment (hospital, ICU, ventilators), Limited Interventions (hospital but no ICU/ventilators), Comfort Measures Only (stay comfortable, avoid hospitalization if possible). |
| Section C: Artificially Administered Nutrition | Whether you want feeding tubes if you can’t eat or drink. | Long-term feeding tubes, Trial period of feeding tubes, or No artificial nutrition. |
These decisions are medical orders signed by your doctor or nurse practitioner, so everyone — EMTs, ER doctors, ICU staff — must follow them.
Why is it so Important?
Imagine this: You’re at home with your mom, who has late-stage cancer. Suddenly, she collapses. You call 911, and the paramedics arrive. Without a POLST form, their default is to do everything possible to save her life, including CPR, defibrillation, and a trip to the hospital.
But what if she didn’t want that? What if her wish was to stay home, surrounded by family, and avoid aggressive treatments? A POLST form makes that clear to everyone, sparing you from making those heartbreaking decisions during a crisis.
Also, hospitals are legally required to honor POLST forms under Arizona’s medical order laws. This means your wishes, or your loved one’s wishes, will be respected across all healthcare settings, from home to ambulance to hospital.
POLST vs. Advance Directives vs. DNR — What’s the Difference?
People often confuse these terms. Here’s a simple table to help you understand:
| Document Type | When It Applies | Who Needs It | What It Does |
| Advance Directive / Living Will | Future, when you can’t speak for yourself. | Everyone 18+ should have one. | Appoints a medical decision-maker (Health Care Power of Attorney) and outlines general care preferences. |
| DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) Order | When the heart stops or breathing stops. | People who don’t want CPR. | Specifically says “no CPR”. This needs a doctor’s signature. |
| POLST (or MOLST in Arizona) | Right now, for a serious illness. | People who are seriously ill or frail. | Detailed medical orders about CPR, life support, feeding tubes, and other treatments. Signed by a doctor. |
So if you’re planning for the future, an advance directive is step one. But if you’re facing a serious illness, you’ll want a POLST to make sure your wishes are followed in real-time medical situations.
How to Get a POLST Form in Arizona
Here’s how:
- Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner — They need to help fill it out and sign it.
- Discuss it with your family — Make sure everyone knows your wishes, so there are no surprises.
- Keep it where emergency responders can find it — Many people post it on the fridge or carry a copy in their wallet. Arizona law recommends placing a copy with your advance directives if you have those.
You can find Arizona’s official version of the form through healthcare providers or organizations like Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) or Arizona POLST Coalition.
Having a POLST form isn’t about giving up — it’s about making sure you stay in control of your care, even when you can’t speak up. If you want to avoid aggressive treatments, or if you want every possible intervention, a POLST makes those wishes known clearly and legally.
In Arizona, where respecting individual healthcare choices is part of state law, a POLST form helps bridge the gap between what you want and what medical teams do when minutes matter.
If you or a loved one is dealing with a serious illness, take time to talk to your doctor and family about a POLST form. It can bring peace of mind knowing that when the time comes, your wishes will be respected.
