CA AB2139

Health care providers must notify patients or their authorized health care decision-makers when diagnosed with a terminal illness of their right to receive comprehensive information and counseling on legal end-of-life options.

Comprehensive information must include hospice care options, prognosis with and without treatment continuation, right to refuse life-sustaining treatment, pain and symptom management options, and right to create advance health care directives.

Health care providers may refer terminally ill patients in health facilities to hospice providers or community-based organizations specializing in end-of-life care to provide the required information and counseling.

If a health care provider declines to provide end-of-life information, the provider must refer or transfer the patient to another health care provider who will provide the requested information and guidance on transfer procedures.

Notification requirements do not apply if the patient or authorized decision-maker has already received notification, and provisions do not restrict a health care provider's clinical judgment in recommending treatment.