Who signs the POLST Form after discussing treatment options with the patient or their representative?

• A. Patient or legal representative.
• B. Nurse practitioner.
• C. Qualified Health Care Practitioner.
• D. Family physician.

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is that POLST forms are medical orders. After a thorough discussion with the patient or their representative, the actual orders on a POLST form must be endorsed by someone who is authorized to write and implement medical orders. That person is a qualified health care practitioner, which includes physicians as well as other clinicians like nurse practitioners and physician assistants who have the authority to document life-sustaining treatment decisions.

The patient or their surrogate participates in the conversation and can express preferences, but the binding medical orders on the form come from the clinician who signs it. A nurse practitioner or a family physician could sign if they are a qualified health care practitioner, but the most precise answer is the broader category—qualified health care practitioner—because it covers all appropriate professionals who can legally authorize POLST directives.