An Act Concerning A Patient's Directions Regarding Life Support Systems.
Impact
The provisions in this bill will modify existing statutes related to healthcare decision-making, particularly focusing on the authority of healthcare representatives in relation to a patient's directives. It prohibits certain individuals, including hospital employees or government agency representatives, from serving as healthcare representatives to avoid potential conflicts. This change aims to reinforce the integrity of patient decision-making and ensure that healthcare providers respect the patients' wishes as documented in living wills or communicated to healthcare personnel.
Summary
SB00897, also known as An Act Concerning A Patient's Directions Regarding Life Support Systems, aims to establish clear guidelines that ensure a patient's expressed wishes regarding life support systems are honored. The bill allows individuals aged eighteen and older to appoint a healthcare representative through a legally executed document. It specifies the conditions under which such appointments can be made, namely involving proper witnessing protocols to safeguard against conflicts of interest and ensure that the appointed representative acts in the best interest of the patient.
Contention
Notably, the bill emphasizes that healthcare representatives cannot overrule a patient's directives to withhold or withdraw life support systems, thus upholding the patient's autonomy in medical decisions. Nevertheless, some stakeholders may raise concerns about the limitations imposed on whom patients can appoint as their representatives, perceiving it as a restriction on personal choice. The bill's supporters argue that these measures are essential to prevent potential abuses and ensure that patients' rights are protected, while opponents may worry that the criteria could unduly hinder patients from having trusted individuals in their corner when it matters most.