Trying to sort out which end-of-life document your family needs can feel like reading a foreign language. Doctors, hospitals, and insurance forms often use different terms for similar tools, which only adds to the confusion. Many Illinois families search for answers about POLST vs DNR forms expecting to find two separate documents, but in Illinois they’re one and the same: the state’s official POLST form is also its DNR form. The confusion often grows once a Health Care Power of Attorney enters the conversation.
A DNR order answers one question: whether to attempt CPR if your heart or breathing stops. The Illinois POLST form records that decision and can also cover a wider set of treatment choices, such as breathing support and artificial nutrition. This article explains how the Illinois POLST form works, how a DNR fits within it, where a Health Care Power of Attorney comes in, and how to figure out which combination matches your situation. At Voorn, Preston, & Carlasare, PLLC, we help Illinois families sort through these choices every day. Let’s break down what you need to know.
Key Takeaways
In Illinois, a DNR order is recorded in the CPR section of the IDPH Uniform POLST form, while the form’s other sections cover additional treatments like breathing support and artificial nutrition.
POLST forms are generally meant for people with serious illness or advanced frailty and usually aren’t needed by healthy adults.
A POLST form is a medical order that emergency responders, hospitals, and nursing homes follow, unlike a living will, which isn’t an order EMS can act on in an emergency.
A Health Care Power of Attorney names someone to make medical decisions for you, including end-of-life decisions, if you can’t make them yourself.
Nearly every adult benefits from a Health Care Power of Attorney, while a POLST form is typically added when serious illness or frailty makes treatment decisions more immediate.
What Is the Illinois POLST Form?
In Illinois, POLST stands for Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment. Many states use the word “Physician,” but Illinois uses “Practitioner” because physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants can all sign it. The official document is the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Uniform POLST Form, explained in detail in the state’s guidance document for health care professionals. It’s a medical order, completed after a conversation between you and your health care practitioner, that tells providers which life-sustaining treatments you do or don’t want.
The form is designed to be honored wherever you receive care, including hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, and emergency medical services. Other states use similar forms under names like MOLST, POST, or COLST, as outlined in the national POLST form guide for patients.
How Does a DNR Fit Into the Illinois POLST Form?
Illinois once had a separate IDPH Uniform DNR form, but the state has since folded the DNR into the POLST form. When someone in Illinois asks for a DNR today, they complete the POLST form. Properly completed older DNR forms generally remain valid, but new orders are made on the POLST form.
The first section of the form covers CPR, and choosing “Do Not Attempt Resuscitation” there is what creates a DNR order. The remaining sections address care when you still have a pulse or are still breathing, such as whether you want full treatment, limited treatment, or comfort-focused care, and whether you want artificial nutrition like a feeding tube. If those sections are left blank, providers will give all necessary life-sustaining treatment until your wishes can be clarified.
That means the real choice for Illinois families isn’t POLST vs DNR. It’s whether to address CPR alone or to give direction on other treatments as well.
Who Should Have a POLST Form?
A POLST form is generally recommended for people with a serious illness, advanced frailty, or a condition that makes a medical crisis reasonably likely, such as advanced heart or lung disease, cancer, or dementia. These patients are likely to face multiple treatment decisions during a crisis, a reality reflected in research quantifying the association between code status discussions and outcomes in critically ill older adults admitted to the ICU. For people in this situation, completing the full form gives doctors and responders clear direction.
For a generally healthy adult, a POLST usually isn’t the right tool, because it reflects your current health rather than hypothetical future situations. That said, an adult who feels strongly about declining CPR can talk with their practitioner about whether completing the form’s CPR section makes sense.
Making Sure Your POLST Form Can Be Found
A POLST form only works if responders and providers can see it. Illinois makes this easy because photocopies, faxes, and digital copies on any color of paper are legally valid. Many families post a copy on the refrigerator, keep one in a wallet or purse, and make sure copies are on file with the patient’s doctor, hospital, or care facility. A medical alert bracelet can signal that a form exists, but it isn’t a substitute for the form itself. Without a valid order in front of them, emergency responders will attempt full resuscitation.
How Does a Health Care Power of Attorney Fit Into This Picture?
A Health Care Power of Attorney names a trusted person, called an agent, to make medical decisions for you. Unlike a POLST form, which gives specific treatment orders, this document appoints someone to decide when nothing on paper covers the situation. That distinction matters because no form can anticipate every medical scenario you might face. Your agent steps in to apply your values when the paperwork falls short.
Think of it this way: A POLST form tells providers what to do about CPR or a feeding tube, but it can’t answer a question about a new surgery option that comes up mid-crisis. Your health care agent fills that gap by advocating for choices consistent with your wishes. In fact, the IDPH POLST form itself recommends a Health Care Power of Attorney for all capable adults, regardless of health status.
At Voorn, Preston, & Carlasare, PLLC, we work with Illinois families to sort out which combination of documents fits their circumstances, and we explain each option in plain language rather than legal jargon. We prepare Health Care Powers of Attorney and living wills as part of a broader estate and elder law plan, so the people you name and the wishes you record are consistent with the rest of your planning. If a POLST form is right for you, we can help you understand how it fits alongside your legal documents before you complete it with your doctor.
Which Document Do You Actually Need?
The right combination depends on your current health and family circumstances. Generally healthy adults typically need a Health Care Power of Attorney. This gives you a named decision-maker and a place to record your wishes about treatment.
Someone managing a terminal illness, advanced frailty, or a progressive disease like Parkinson’s should talk with their practitioner about a POLST form. That conversation determines which sections of the form fit their medical reality, whether that’s only the CPR section or the full set of treatment choices. Even then, a Health Care Power of Attorney still belongs in the plan, because a POLST form gives treatment orders but doesn’t name anyone to speak for you. The right mix depends on your health history, your family situation, and how much you want written down in advance.
Why Coordinating These Documents Matters
Signing documents in isolation can leave gaps. That’s especially common when families complete a POLST form and assume their planning is done, skipping the decision-maker piece entirely. We integrate health care directives with wills, trusts, and guardianship planning, so every document works together instead of leaving your family guessing during a crisis.
The Takeaway
In Illinois, your DNR decision lives on the POLST form, which can also give direction on other life-sustaining treatments during a serious illness. A Health Care Power of Attorney answers a different question: who speaks for you when nothing on paper fits the moment. Neither replaces the other, and guessing which one applies can leave real gaps during an emergency.
Start by talking with your doctor or health care practitioner about your medical situation. Then reach out to Voorn, Preston, & Carlasare, PLLC for guidance on building a complete, coordinated plan. Our team walks Illinois families through every option with patience and clear answers, so your wishes stay protected no matter what happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the questions Illinois families ask most often about POLST forms, DNR orders, and how a Health Care Power of Attorney rounds out the picture.
Is a DNR the Same as a POLST in Illinois?
In Illinois, a DNR order is made on the IDPH Uniform POLST form. The form’s CPR section serves as the DNR, while its other sections let you address additional life-sustaining treatments. Older Illinois DNR forms that were properly completed are generally still honored.
Can I Have Both a POLST and a Health Care Power of Attorney at the Same Time?
Yes, and for people with a serious illness or advanced frailty, having both is often the best approach. A POLST form spells out specific treatment orders, while a Health Care Power of Attorney names an agent to handle decisions the form doesn’t cover. Your agent can also help make sure medical staff follow the wishes on your POLST form.
Who Signs a POLST Form in Illinois?
A qualified health care practitioner, meaning a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, must sign the form for it to be a valid medical order. The patient, or their legal representative, such as a health care agent, gives consent after a conversation about the patient’s condition and goals, usually by signing the form. Illinois no longer requires a witness signature.
Can I Change or Cancel My POLST Form Later?
Yes. A POLST form is always voluntary, and you or your legal representative can revoke it at any time. Talk with your practitioner about the correct process, which typically involves marking the old form void and, if your wishes have changed, completing a new one.
Does a Health Care Power of Attorney Replace the Need for a POLST Form?
No. A Health Care Power of Attorney names a decision-maker but doesn’t give specific treatment orders. Someone with a serious illness or advanced frailty may still need a POLST form so providers know exactly what care to give in an emergency.
What Is a Living Will, and Do I Need One in Illinois?
A living will is a written statement telling doctors not to use death-delaying procedures if you have a terminal condition and can no longer make your own decisions. In Illinois, it only takes effect after your attending physician examines you and determines that your condition is terminal, so it doesn’t cover situations like a temporary illness or an emergency. It also isn’t a medical order, which means emergency responders can’t act on it the way they would a POLST form. A living will must be signed in front of two adult witnesses, and unlike a Health Care Power of Attorney, it doesn’t name anyone to speak for you. Many people choose to have one alongside a Health Care Power of Attorney, but it isn’t a substitute for naming an agent.
What Happens if I Don’t Have Any of These Documents?
Emergency responders will provide every possible life-saving treatment, including CPR, when no valid order exists. Later decisions typically fall to family members acting as surrogates under the Illinois Health Care Surrogate Act, who are often left guessing what their loved one wanted. In some cases, a court may need to appoint a guardian.
