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Relating to advance directives or health care or treatment decisions made by or on behalf of patients.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Under current law, a person may author an advance directive to express their wishes regarding life-saving medical treatment in the event of a catastrophic injury that prevents them from making their own medical decisions. A doctor acting with approval from the hospital may ignore an advance directive and choose to withdraw life-sustaining treatment after giving 10 days advance notice to the patient's family. SB 917 would extend the required notice to 90 days, giving an additional 80 days for family members to find alternative care for the patient.
SB 917 would ensure an individual's desires are followed according to their advanced directive. This supports individual liberty. The bill would also require physicians and hospitals to provide care beyond the time they believe it to be medically useful, infringing on the limited government principle. Due to these conflicting liberty principles, Texas Action will remain neutral on SB 917.
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