MARYLAND'S MEDICAL FORMS
MOLST Form
The Maryland's adoption of the POLST paradigm is the Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form. It is a required form for patients in assisted living programs, home health agencies, hospices, kidney dialysis centers, and nursing homes, and must be completed before transfer between healthcare institutions (as well as if the type of institution stays the same but at a different location).
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MOLST forms must be recognized as a legal and valid medical order. The patient and surrogates are not able to fill out the MOLST order, but instead should use the Health Care Decision Making Worksheet and communicate with their physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who will fill it out on their behalf.
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For the following PDF linked, Section 1 covers what a normal do-not-resuscitate (DNR) form would entail, so an additional DNR form would not be necessary.
Living Wills
Living wills in Maryland are legally binding according to the Maryland Health Care Decisions Act. Much like the MOLST form, it states a person's medical treatment wishes in advance. However, it does not provide an opportunity to request palliative care. The patient should instead communicate with their physician to request it specifically.
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Living wills can be revocable at any time. Living wills offer a form of legal protection for health care providers as they are not subject to civil or criminal liability when withdrawing healthcare due to following the living will.
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Click below the document to download the Maryland Living Will. Check with your physician to make sure that it is accepted at your hospital, nursing home, or other healthcare institution.
