Who can sign the POLST Form as a legal representative?

• A. Parent of a minor, agent under Power of Attorney for Health Care, or health care surrogate decision maker.
• B. A physician.
• C. A nurse.
• D. Any family member.

Answer: (A)

A POLST form is a medical order that records a patient’s preferences for life-sustaining treatments and must be signed by someone who has legal authority to make health care decisions when the patient can’t. The people who can sign in this role are a parent of a minor, an agent named in a Health Care Power of Attorney, or a health care surrogate decision maker. These individuals are empowered by law to represent the patient’s wishes in medical decisions. A physician or a nurse may facilitate and document the patient’s preferences and sign in their clinician capacity, but they do not act as the patient’s legal decision-maker. Similarly, a family member without legal authority cannot sign on the patient’s behalf.