A bill to authorize the making of medical treatment decisions for another individual under certain circumstances; to prohibit the authorization of certain types of medical treatment; and to provide for certain liability.
The proposed legislation establishes a framework for making medical treatment decisions on behalf of individuals who are unable to make such decisions themselves. It outlines a hierarchy of individuals who may act as decision-makers, starting with the patient's spouse, followed by adult children, parents, adult siblings, grandparents, and surrogates, with the attending physician and another physician stepping in if no other suitable individual is available. The bill specifies that these decisions can only be made when the patient is unable to participate in medical treatment decisions, as determined by the attending physician and another physician or psychologist, and when there is no available patient advocate or guardian. The legislation prohibits certain actions, such as withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, sterilization, pregnancy termination, and admission to specific types of care facilities, without the patient's explicit consent. It also ensures that any medical treatment decisions made must align with the known desires and religious beliefs of the patient, or, if unknown, be in the patient's best interests. The bill provides liability protections for healthcare providers who implement treatment decisions made under this authority, treating them as if the patient had made the decisions themselves. Additionally, the act does not override existing advance directives or patient advocate designations.
Introduced
by
Referred to the Committee on Health Policy
