Should I wear a POLST or Do Not Resuscitate bracelet if I have a terminal illness?
Posted by Lori Torman on 11th May 2026
For someone with a terminal illness, a POLST bracelet is generally the more comprehensive and effective choice for ensuring your medical wishes are honored across all care settings.
While a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order only addresses CPR if your heart or breathing stops, a POLST (Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a medical order that covers a broader range of end-of-life care.
Key Differences
|
Feature |
DNR Bracelet |
POLST Bracelet |
|
Scope |
Only covers CPR. |
Covers CPR, intubation, feeding tubes, and antibiotics. |
|
Portability |
Often valid only in certain settings. |
Designed to travel with you across all medical settings. |
|
Status |
A medical order signed by a licensed physician to withhold one specific treatment. |
A comprehensive set of medical orders signed by a licensed practitioner. |
|
Goal |
To stop resuscitation if you die. |
To manage ongoing treatment if you are still alive. |
Why is POLST often preferred for terminal illness
- Detailed Instructions: You can specify if you want "Comfort Care" (focused on pain relief), "Limited Intervention," or "Full Treatment".
- Medical Legitimacy: Because it is a signed medical order, EMS personnel and hospital staff are generally legally required to follow it immediately.
- Comprehensive Planning: It addresses situations where you may have a pulse but cannot speak for yourself, such as needing a ventilator or a feeding tube.
Practical Tips for Your Bracelet
- Check State Laws: DNR and POLST regulations vary by state. In some areas, emergency responders may only honor specific, state-approved bracelets.
- Keep Paperwork Handy: Even with a bracelet, it is highly recommended to keep a copy of your signed POLST or DNR form in a visible place, like on your refrigerator, where EMTs are trained to look.
- Wear to Find a POLST OR DNR bracelet: StickyJ Medical ID offers state-specific DNR and POLST bracelets that guide EMS to your POLST or DNR form, with many including a QR code that, once scanned, takes EMS directly to your POLST or DNR form, which is kept in a secure cloud-based data repository.
- Consult Your Physician: A POLST must be filled out and signed by a healthcare provider (doctor, nurse practitioner, or PA) to be valid