Published: 2015-07-09
Key Benefits:
(a) As used in this part:
(1) “Request regarding resuscitative measures” means a written document, signed by (A) an individual with capacity, or a legally recognized health care decisionmaker, and (B) the individual’s physician, that directs a health care provider regarding resuscitative measures. A request regarding resuscitative measures is not an advance health care directive.
(2) “Request regarding resuscitative measures” includes one, or both of, the following:
(A) A prehospital “do not resuscitate” form as developed by the Emergency Medical Services Authority or other substantially similar form.
(B) A Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form, as approved by the Emergency Medical Services Authority.
(3) “Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form” means a request regarding resuscitative measures that directs a health care provider regarding resuscitative and life-sustaining measures.
(b) A legally recognized health care decisionmaker may execute the Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form only if the individual lacks capacity, or the individual has designated that the decisionmaker’s authority is effective pursuant to Section 4682.
(c) The Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form and medical intervention and procedures offered by the form shall be explained by a health care provider, as defined in Section 4621. The form shall be completed by a health care provider based on patient preferences and medical indications, and signed by a physician and the patient or his or her legally recognized health care decisionmaker. The health care provider, during the process of completing the Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form, should inform the patient about the difference between an advance health care directive and the Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form.
(d) An individual having capacity may revoke a Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form at any time and in any manner that communicates an intent to revoke, consistent with Section 4695.
(e) A request regarding resuscitative measures may also be evidenced by a medallion engraved with the words “do not resuscitate” or the letters “DNR,” a patient identification number, and a 24-hour toll-free telephone number, issued by a person pursuant to an agreement with the Emergency Medical Services Authority.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 266, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2009.)
As used in this part, “health care provider” includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(a) Persons described in Section 4621.
(b) Emergency response employees, including, but not limited to, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians I and II, paramedics, and employees and volunteer members of legally organized and recognized volunteer organizations, who are trained in accordance with standards adopted as regulations by the Emergency Medical Services Authority pursuant to Sections 1797.170, 1797.171, 1797.172, 1797.182, and 1797.183 of the Health and Safety Code to respond to medical emergencies in the course of performing their volunteer or employee duties with the organization.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 658, Sec. 39. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2000, by Sec. 43 of Ch. 658.)
(a) A health care provider shall treat an individual in accordance with a Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply if the Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form requires medically ineffective health care or health care contrary to generally accepted health care standards applicable to the health care provider or institution.
(c) A physician may conduct an evaluation of the individual and, if possible, in consultation with the individual, or the individual’s legally recognized health care decisionmaker, issue a new order consistent with the most current information available about the individual’s health status and goals of care.
(d) The legally recognized health care decisionmaker of an individual without capacity shall consult with the physician who is, at that time, the individual’s treating physician prior to making a request to modify that individual’s Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment form.
(e) An individual with capacity may, at any time, request alternative treatment to that treatment that was ordered on the form.
(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 266, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2009.)
If the orders in an individual’s request regarding resuscitative measures directly conflict with his or her individual health care instruction, as defined in Section 4623, then, to the extent of the conflict, the most recent order or instruction is effective.
(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 266, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2009.)
The legally recognized health care decisionmaker shall make health care decisions pursuant to this part in accordance with Sections 4684 and 4714.
(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 266, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2009.)
A health care provider who honors a request regarding resuscitative measures is not subject to criminal prosecution, civil liability, discipline for unprofessional conduct, administrative sanction, or any other sanction, as a result of his or her reliance on the request, if the health care provider (a) believes in good faith that the action or decision is consistent with this part, and (b) has no knowledge that the action or decision would be inconsistent with a health care decision that the individual signing the request would have made on his or her own behalf under like circumstances.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 266, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2009.)
(a) Forms for requests regarding resuscitative measures printed after January 1, 1995, shall contain the following:
“By signing this form, the legally recognized health care decisionmaker acknowledges that this request regarding resuscitative measures is consistent with the known desires of, and with the best interest of, the individual who is the subject of the form.”
(b) A printed form substantially similar to that described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 4780 is valid and enforceable if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The form is signed by the individual, or the individual’s legally recognized health care decisionmaker, and a physician.
(2) The form directs health care providers regarding resuscitative measures.
(3) The form contains all other information required by this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 266, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2009.)
In the absence of knowledge to the contrary, a health care provider may presume that a request regarding resuscitative measures is valid and unrevoked.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 266, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2009.)
This part applies regardless of whether the individual executing a request regarding resuscitative measures is within or outside a hospital or other health care institution.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 266, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2009.)
This part does not repeal or narrow laws relating to health care decisionmaking.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 658, Sec. 39. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2000, by Sec. 43 of Ch. 658.)
