§ 15-14-507 — Transfer of principal

(1) A health-care provider or health-care
facility shall provide notice to a principal and an agent of any policies based on
moral convictions or religious beliefs of the health-care provider or health-care
facility relative to the withholding or withdrawal of medical treatment. Notice shall
be provided, when reasonably possible, prior to the provision of medical treatment
or prior to or upon the admission of the principal to the health-care facility, or as
soon as possible thereafter.

(2) A health-care provider or health-care facility shall provide for the prompt
transfer of the principal to another health-care provider or health-care facility if
such health-care provider or health-care facility wishes not to comply with an
agent's medical treatment decision on the basis of policies based on moral
convictions or religious beliefs.

(3) An agent may transfer the principal to the care of another health-care
provider or health-care facility if an attending physician or health-care facility does
not wish to comply with an agent's decision for any reason other than those
described in subsection (1) of this section.

(4) The transfer of a principal to another health-care provider or health-care
facility in accordance with the provisions of this section shall not constitute a
violation of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C., sec. 1395dd,
regarding the transfer of patients.

(5) Nothing in this section shall relieve or exonerate an attending physician
or health-care facility from the duty to provide for the care and comfort of the
principal pending transfer pursuant to this section.

Legislative History

Source: L. 92: Entire section added, p. 1979, � 2, effective June 4.