§ 20-17-210 — Miscellaneous provisions

(a) Death resulting from the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment pursuant to a declaration and in accordance with this subchapter does not constitute, for any purpose, a suicide or homicide. (b) The making of a declaration pursuant to § 20-17-202 does not affect in any manner the sale, procurement, or issuance of any policy of life insurance or annuity, nor does it affect, impair, or modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance or annuity. A policy of life insurance or annuity is not legally impaired or invalidated in any manner by the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from an insured qualified patient, notwithstanding any term to the contrary. (c) A person may not prohibit or require the execution of a declaration as a condition for being insured for, or receiving, healthcare services. (d) This subchapter creates no presumption concerning the intention of an individual who has revoked or has not executed a declaration with respect to the use, withholding, or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in the event of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness. (e) This subchapter does not affect the right of a patient to make decisions regarding use of life-sustaining treatment, so long as the patient is able to do so, or impair or supersede any right or responsibility that a person has to affect the withholding or withdrawal of medical care. (f) This subchapter does not require any physician or other healthcare provider to take any action contrary to reasonable medical standards. (g) This subchapter does not condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia.

Legislative History

Acts 1987, No. 713, § 10; 1999, No. 1536, § 6.