A Medical Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) would MOST likely apply to which patient?

A Medical Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) is designed for patients who are seriously ill or have life-limiting conditions. It provides a framework for communicating a patient's end-of-life treatment preferences. The focus of the MOLST is on respecting and documenting the patient's wishes concerning life-sustaining treatments in scenarios where their health status implies that aggressive interventions may not align with their goals of care.

The situation described in your answer pertains to a patient who is facing impending pulmonary failure but is not in cardiac arrest. This is significant because such a patient may benefit from discussing and documenting their preferences regarding resuscitation and other life-sustaining measures. Since they are still conscious and capable of making decisions about their care, a MOLST can ensure that their treatment aligns with their wishes when they can no longer express them due to declining health.

In contrast, the other scenarios involve patients who may either be in critical situations (like cardiac arrest) or situations where their clinical status does not currently provide an opportunity to assess their goals and preferences comprehensively. For patients in cardiac arrest, immediate life-saving measures are typically prioritized regardless of their previous wishes, while a patient with a terminal illness and a witnessed cardiac arrest presents a situation that usually requires immediate