Letter to the Editor
On “I’m Dying, but I’m Not Dead Yet: Patient Decisions About Dying and Death”
Abstract
To the Editor: In his April 2016 Southern Medical Journal editorial ‘‘‘I’m Dying, But I’m Not Dead Yet’: Patient Decisions About Dying and Death,’’1 Dr Holt highlights the value of the advance directive and the durable power of attorney for health care in promoting ‘‘[a] meaningful discussion between physician and patient,’’ and helping patients achieve a ‘‘good death.’’ Another instrument that promotes patient autonomy and constructive end-of-life decision making and that can help patients achieve a good death is the physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) paradigm.2This content is limited to qualifying members.
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References
1. Holt GR. “’ dying, but I’ not dead yet”: patient decisions about dying and death. South Med J 2016;109:199.
2. Physician orders for life-sustaining paradigm. http://www.polst.org/about-the-national-polst-paradigm/what-is-polst. Accessed June 29, 2016.
