About the MOLST Form
MOLST is a process and a medical form that is sometimes used during Advance Care Planning if a person has a serious illness or injury.
When a person’s heart or breathing stops, there are certain medical treatments that health care providers such as nurses and emergency responders are required to use unless there are other specific medical orders (like MOLST) from a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
The MOLST form may be used by a person of any age who has a serious advancing medical condition (for example, a life-threatening illness or injury, chronic progressive disease, dementia or medical frailty) to express their wishes about life-sustaining medical treatments in the form of medical orders that health providers can honor.
What to discuss with a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant before using MOLST
The MOLST form should be filled out only after discussions between the person that is very sick and his or her physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
□ The person’s health condition and prognosis (a medical opinion about the likely course and outcome)
□ Medical treatments – especially benefits, burdens and possible results, considering the person’s health condition
□ The person’s values and goals, hopes and expectations about treatments, especially what outcomes would be acceptable or unacceptable to the person.
If a person cannot make medical decisions (e.g. because of unconscious, coma, dementia or other mental limitations), their health care agent can make decisions for them.
If there is no health care agent, a guardian or the parent/guardian of a minor can make medical decisions to the extent allowed by Massachusetts law. Seek legal counsel with questions about a guardian's authority.
Whatever choices are made about life-sustaining treatment, health providers will always make every person as comfortable as possible at the end of life.
Click here for more information about the treatment decisions included on the MOLST form.
