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2018 HB 5148: An Act Concerning Pregnant Patients Exercising Living Wills.
Bill Text
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 19a-575 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Any person eighteen years of age or older may execute a document that contains directions as to any aspect of health care, including the withholding or withdrawal of life support systems. Such document shall be signed and dated by the maker with at least two witnesses and may be in substantially the following form:
DOCUMENT CONCERNING HEALTH CARE
AND WITHHOLDING OR WITHDRAWAL OF LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS.
If the time comes when I am incapacitated to the point when I can no longer actively take part in decisions for my own life, and am unable to direct my physician as to my own medical care, I wish this statement to stand as a testament of my wishes.
"I, .... (Name), request that, if my condition is deemed terminal or if it is determined that I will be permanently unconscious, I be allowed to die and not be kept alive through life support systems. By terminal condition, I mean that I have an incurable or irreversible medical condition which, without the administration of life support systems, will, in the opinion of my attending physician, result in death within a relatively short time. By permanently unconscious I mean that I am in a permanent coma or persistent vegetative state which is an irreversible condition in which I am at no time aware of myself or the environment and show no behavioral response to the environment. The life support systems which I do not want include, but are not limited to:
(Cross out and initial life support systems you want administered)
I do not intend any direct taking of my life, but only that my dying not be unreasonably prolonged. "
Other specific requests:
"This request is made, after careful reflection, while I am of sound mind."
This document was signed in our presence, by the above-named .... (Name) who appeared to be eighteen years of age or older, of sound mind and able to understand the nature and consequences of health care decisions at the time the document was signed.
Sec. 2. Section 19a-575a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Any person eighteen years of age or older may execute a document that contains health care instructions, the appointment of a health care representative, the designation of a conservator of the person for future incapacity and a document of anatomical gift. Any such document shall be signed and dated by the maker with at least two witnesses and may be in the substantially following form:
THESE ARE MY HEALTH CARE INSTRUCTIONS.
MY APPOINTMENT OF A HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE,
THE DESIGNATION OF MY CONSERVATOR OF THE PERSON
FOR MY FUTURE INCAPACITY
AND
MY DOCUMENT OF ANATOMICAL GIFT
To any physician who is treating me: These are my health care instructions including those concerning the withholding or withdrawal of life support systems, together with the appointment of my health care representative, the designation of my conservator of the person for future incapacity and my document of anatomical gift. As my physician, you may rely on these health care instructions and any decision made by my health care representative or conservator of my person, if I am incapacitated to the point when I can no longer actively take part in decisions for my own life, and am unable to direct my physician as to my own medical care.
I, ...., the author of this document, request that, if my condition is deemed terminal or if I am determined to be permanently unconscious, I be allowed to die and not be kept alive through life support systems. By terminal condition, I mean that I have an incurable or irreversible medical condition which, without the administration of life support systems, will, in the opinion of my attending physician, result in death within a relatively short time. By permanently unconscious I mean that I am in a permanent coma or persistent vegetative state which is an irreversible condition in which I am at no time aware of myself or the environment and show no behavioral response to the environment. The life support systems which I do not want include, but are not limited to: Artificial respiration, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and artificial means of providing nutrition and hydration. I do want sufficient pain medication to maintain my physical comfort. I do not intend any direct taking of my life, but only that my dying not be unreasonably prolonged.
I appoint .... to be my health care representative. If my attending physician determines that I am unable to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of health care decisions and unable to reach and communicate an informed decision regarding treatment, my health care representative is authorized to make any and all health care decisions for me, including (1) the decision to accept or refuse any treatment, service or procedure used to diagnose or treat my physical or mental condition, except as otherwise provided by law such as for psychosurgery or shock therapy, as defined in section 17a-540, and (2) the decision to provide, withhold or withdraw life support systems. I direct my health care representative to make decisions on my behalf in accordance with my wishes, as stated in this document or as otherwise known to my health care representative. In the event my wishes are not clear or a situation arises that I did not anticipate, my health care representative may make a decision in my best interests, based upon what is known of my wishes.
If .... is unwilling or unable to serve as my health care representative, I appoint .... to be my alternative health care representative.
If a conservator of my person should need to be appointed, I designate .... be appointed my conservator. If .... is unwilling or unable to serve as my conservator, I designate ..... I designate .... to be successor conservator. No bond shall be required of either of them in any jurisdiction.
I hereby make this anatomical gift, if medically acceptable, to take effect upon my death.
I give: (check one)
to be donated for: (check one)
These requests, appointments, and designations are made after careful reflection, while I am of sound mind. Any party receiving a duly executed copy or facsimile of this document may rely upon it unless such party has received actual notice of my revocation of it.
This document was signed in our presence by .... the author of this document, who appeared to be eighteen years of age or older, of sound mind and able to understand the nature and consequences of health care decisions at the time this document was signed. The author appeared to be under no improper influence. We have subscribed this document in the author's presence and at the author's request and in the presence of each other.
We, the subscribing witnesses, being duly sworn, say that we witnessed the execution of these health care instructions, the appointments of a health care representative, the designation of a conservator for future incapacity and a document of anatomical gift by the author of this document; that the author subscribed, published and declared the same to be the author's instructions, appointments and designation in our presence; that we thereafter subscribed the document as witnesses in the author's presence, at the author's request, and in the presence of each other; that at the time of the execution of said document the author appeared to us to be eighteen years of age or older, of sound mind, able to understand the nature and consequences of said document, and under no improper influence, and we make this affidavit at the author's request this .... day of .... 20...
Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of .... 20..
(Print or type name of all persons signing under all signatures)
(b) Except as provided in section 19a-579b, an appointment of health care representative may only be revoked by the declarant, in writing, and the writing shall be signed by the declarant and two witnesses.
(c) The attending physician or other health care provider shall make the revocation of an appointment of health care representative a part of the declarant's medical record.
(d) In the absence of knowledge of the revocation of an appointment of health care representative, a person who carries out an advance directive pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or discipline for unprofessional conduct for carrying out such advance directive.
(e) The revocation of an appointment of health care representative does not, of itself, revoke the living will of the declarant.
Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 19a-573 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 19a-571, 19a-572, 19a-574, 19a-575, as amended by this act, 19a-575a, as amended by this act, 19a-577, 19a-580a and 19a-580b, comfort care and pain alleviation shall be provided in all cases.
Sec. 4. Section 19a-574 of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective from passage)