Medical orders for life sustaining treatment - R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 23-4.11-3.1

The department of health must create rules for establishing “Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment” (MOLST) and rules regarding the content of MOLST forms. These rules must:

• Permit a patient’s declaration to be recorded as a MOLST so long as (1) the patient is informed about the MOLST procedures and the difference between a MOLST and advance health care directive; (2) a qualified health care provider has evaluated the patient; and (3) the qualified health care provider and patient sign the form.
• Allow resuscitation requests to be evidenced by documentation in the patient’s medical record.
• Permit a patient to revoke their MOLST at any time by communicating their revocation intent to a health care provider or member of the medical or nursing staff. Medical or nursing staff that are informed of a patient’s intent to revoke their MOLST must notify a qualified health provider. Upon learning of a MOLST revocation, a qualified health provider must document the revocation in the patient’s medical record, cancel orders to withhold or withdraw treatment, and notify all persons responsible for the patient’s care.
• Require qualified health care providers to cancel order to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment upon determining that a patient’s condition has improved or that the patient has regained the ability to make decisions. Qualified providers must document such determination in the patient’s medical record.