Governor Vetoes New Jersey POLST Bill

On Thursday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed S-2197, legislation providing for the use of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (“POLST”) forms in New Jersey.

While noting the prospective benefits in guiding end of life patient care for New Jerseyans by utilizing POLST forms, Governor Christie cited concerns with the provisions of the bill that would effectively allow a patient’s wishes to be overridden by the patient’s physician or healthcare representative without the patient’s prior consent, and that would mandate an alternative dispute resolution as a prerequisite to a patient’s or his or her representative’s right to go to court to protect a patient’s wishes. Governor Christie’s recommended changes to further protect a patient’s health care wishes.