The California Department of Health has issued a new All Facilities Letter regarding Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms, effective January 1, 2009. The POLST form aims to help patients inform healthcare providers about their desired life-sustaining medical interventions and care in cases of frailty, compromised medical conditions, a prognosis of one year of life, or terminal illness. The form is an immediately actionable physician's order and does not affect existing advance healthcare directives. Healthcare providers are required to honor POLST orders and treat patients according to the form, unless it requires medically ineffective care or care contrary to accepted standards. The form can be revoked by the patient or their representative at any time and is legally sufficient as a physician's order. Healthcare providers are granted statutory immunity from prosecution, civil liability, and other sanctions when relying on the form in good faith. The POLST form does not require healthcare providers to use it, but they must honor it if it is in place.

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