§ 20-6-305 — Compliance

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a healthcare provider and a healthcare facility shall treat a patient in accordance with the physician order for life-sustaining treatment form. (b) A physician order for life-sustaining treatment form is valid in a healthcare facility, regardless of whether the physician who signed the life-sustaining treatment form has clinical privileges at the healthcare facility. (c) (1) A healthcare provider or healthcare facility is not required to comply with a physician order for life-sustaining treatment form if the physician order for life-sustaining treatment form requires medically ineffective health care or health care contrary to generally accepted healthcare standards applicable to a healthcare provider or healthcare facility. (2) A healthcare provider or healthcare facility may decline to comply with an executed physician order for life-sustaining treatment form based upon religious beliefs or moral convictions if the healthcare provider or healthcare facility: (A) Promptly informs the patient or legal representative of the patient regarding the inability to carry out the physician order for life-sustaining treatment form; (B) Provides continuing care to the patient until a transfer can be made or a determination has been made that the transfer cannot be made; and (C) (i) Makes all reasonable efforts to assist in the prompt transfer of the patient to another healthcare provider or healthcare facility that is willing to comply with the executed physician order for life-sustaining treatment form. (ii) If a transfer cannot be made, the healthcare provider or healthcare facility shall not be compelled to comply with the physician order for life-sustaining treatment form. (3) This section does not authorize a healthcare provider or healthcare facility to withhold life-sustaining treatment against the wishes of a patient or a legal representative.

Legislative History

Added by Act 2017, No. 504,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017.