CMA Issues White Paper on POLST
May 16, 2013
Bala Cynwyd, PA—The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) has published a White Paper on POLST in the May issue of the Linacre Quarterly, CMA’s journal of medical ethics, released this week. POLST (an acronym for “Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment”) is a new kind of advanced medical decision-making document that is spreading rapidly across the United States as a result of an organized campaign.
The Catholic Medical Association brought together a multidisciplinary team of physicians, healthcare professionals, and attorneys to study POLST, and the programs and training that implement it (the “POLST paradigm”). The resulting White Paper, titled “The POLST paradigm and form: Facts and analysis,” reviews the origin and stated goals of the POLST program, analyzes a wide range of arguments favoring or opposing POLST, and examines whether the POLST paradigm will provide real solutions to challenges faced by patients and families trying to make good decisions regarding end-of-life care.
Indeed, the White Paper identifies some significant problems posed by POLST, and makes practical recommendations about how to promote decision-making for vulnerable patients that is medically and ethically sound, and consistent with the Catholic Church’s teachings on respect for human life.
This White Paper should be of interest to Catholic healthcare institutions and professionals, bishops and pastors, patients and families, policymakers, and all interested in promoting quality clinical care and ethical decision-making, especially for vulnerable patients. A PDF copy of the White Paper can be downloaded by clicking the PDF icon above.
Founded in 1932, the Catholic Medical Association is the largest association of Catholic physicians in North America.
For more information, go to http://www.cathmed.org.
CONTACT: John Brehany, Ph.D., S.T.L., Executive Director & Ethicist
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