Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) and Other Life-Sustaining Treatment (LST)
This is a medical order form that tells others the patient's wishes for life-sustaining treatment. A health care proffessional must complete or change the MOLST form based on the patient's current medical condition, values, wishes, and MOLST instrusctions. If the patient is unable to make medical decisions, the orders should reflect the patients wishes, as best understood by the health care agent or surrogate. A physician/nurse practicioner/ physician assistant must sign the MOLST form. All health care proffessionals must follow these medical orders as the patient moves from one location to another, unless a physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant examines the patient, reviews the orders and changes them.
MOLST is generally for patients with serious health conditions. The patient or other decision-maker should work with the physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant and consider asking the physician/nurse practitioner/physician assistant to fill out a MOLST form if the patient:
- Wants to avoid or recieve any or all life sustaining treatment
- Resides in a long-term care facility or requires long-term care services
- Might die within the next year
If the patient has an itellectual or developmental disability (I/DD) and lacks the capacity to decide, the physician (not a nurse practitioner or physician assistant) must follow special procedures and attach the completed Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) legal requirements checklist before signing the MOLST. See page 4.