Bill

SB 11

85(1) - 2017
Senate Health & Human Services
House State Affairs
Senate Health & Human Services
House State Affairs

Vote Recommendation

Yes
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Positive

Author(s)

Charles Perry

Sponsor(s)

Greg Bonnen

Bill Caption

Relating to general procedures and requirements for certain do-not-resuscitate orders; creating a criminal offense.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

Bill Analysis

This bill would specify the circumstances under which a Do Not Resuscitate Order issued in a health care facility is valid. The bill would specifically protect patients by requiring that DNRs in health care facilities only be valid if approved by the patient or the patient's guardian or in a patient's valid advance directive. The bill would improve notice requirements and make it easier for a patient to revoke a DNR.

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that health care providers do not make a decision not to attempt resuscitation without the approval of the patient or a person with authority to make health care decisions on behalf of the patient. 

A physician, physician's assistant, nurse, or other person who "intentionally conceals, cancels, effectuates, or falsifies another person’s DNR order or if the person intentionally conceals or withholds personal knowledge of another person’s revocation of a DNR order".would be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill supports individual liberty by ensuring that the decision not to attempt resuscitation in a health care facility rests with the patient or the patient's legal guardian and that a DNR may not be issued without the consent of the patient or the patient's legal guardian. We support SB 11.