§ 50-10-104 — Effect On Insurance -- Patient's Decision

50-10-104 . Effect on insurance -- patient's decision. (1) Death resulting from the withholding or withdrawal of emergency life-sustaining procedures pursuant to the do not resuscitate protocol and in accordance with this part is not, for any purpose, a suicide or homicide.
(2) The possession of DNR identification pursuant to this part does not affect in any manner the sale, procurement, or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor does it modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance. A policy of life insurance is not legally impaired or invalidated in any manner by the withholding or withdrawal of emergency life-sustaining procedures from an insured person possessing DNR identification, notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary.
(3) A physician, advanced practice registered nurse, health care facility, or other health care provider and a health care service plan, insurer issuing disability insurance, self-insured employee welfare benefit plan, or nonprofit hospital plan may not require a person to possess DNR identification as a condition for being insured for or receiving health care services.
(4) This part does not create a presumption concerning the intention of an individual who does not possess DNR identification with respect to the use, withholding, or withdrawal of emergency life-sustaining procedures.
(5) This part does not increase or decrease the right of a patient to make decisions regarding the use of emergency life-sustaining procedures if the patient is able to do so, nor does this part impair or supersede any right or responsibility that a person has to effect the withholding or withdrawal of medical care in any lawful manner. In that respect, the provisions of this part are cumulative.
(6) This part does not authorize or approve mercy killing.

Legislative History

En. Sec. 4, Ch. 581, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 240, L. 2003.