Important Update on the MOLST form and Verbal Consent

In April 2020 during the COVID-19 State of Emergency, Honoring Choices and our Partners requested the State waive the requirement for written consent on a MOLST, Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment form, as it was not possible for seriously ill and frail patients and their clinicians to have in-person planning conversations and sign a MOLST form. The State honored our request to waive the in-person written consent requirement and authorized clinicians to complete a MOLST form using Witnessed Verbal Consent. This allowed clinicians and patients to have timely goals of care planning discussions via telehealth and document patient treatment choices on the MOLST form.

UPDATE: As of May 12, 2021 EMS Protocols state the standard for a written signature by patients, Health Care Agents and Guardians on the MOLST form has been reinstated and verbal consent that was allowed during the COVID-19 State of Emergency is no longer accepted. There is an exception if the patient is in a licensed care facility. Please read Updated EMS Protocols here.

Importantly, a MOLST form competed with witnessed verbal consent from April 3, 2020 to May 11, 2021 will be considered VALID by EMS