Which forms can a Physician Assistant sign in New York?

• A. Death certificates
• B. DNR order
• C. All of the above
• D. MOLST forms

Answer: (C)

In New York, physician assistants practice under the supervision of a physician and can sign formal documents that reflect medical decisions when they are acting as the attending clinician or with the supervising physician’s authorization. DNR orders and MOLST forms are clear medical orders that PAs can issue and sign as part of the patient’s care plan, provided the PA has the appropriate authority under supervision. Death certificates, while traditionally associated with physicians, can also be signed by a PA in many settings when they are the attending clinician of record or when the institution permits the PA to certify the death under supervision. Because all three types of documents can be signed by a PA under proper supervision and institutional policy, the best choice is all of the above.