The California Department of Health has issued a new All Facilities Letter (AFL) regarding Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms. The letter clarifies provisions established by Assembly Bill 3000 and emphasizes that the POLST form is a voluntary option for patients to communicate their end-of-life decisions. Healthcare providers must explain the form to patients, and physicians are responsible for obtaining informed consent from patients before completing the form. The POLST form is not an advance directive, but a legally sufficient physician order. Healthcare providers are not required to use the form, but must honor POLST orders. The form can be revoked or changed by patients with capacity at any time. Healthcare providers who rely on and honor the form in good faith are provided with statutory immunity from various sanctions.
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