HB5476 Summary

• Requires health facilities and agencies to disclose in writing their policies on life-sustaining or nonbeneficial treatment to patients, residents, or their parents/legal guardians upon request.

• Mandates that before implementing a "do-not-resuscitate" medical order for a minor, the facility must provide oral information to at least one parent or legal guardian in the presence of a qualified witness and obtain written acknowledgment, with documentation in the medical record.

• Allows parents or legal guardians to request transfer of a minor to another facility before a do-not-resuscitate order is implemented; the original facility must provide reasonable time and medical records to facilitate transfer.

• Permits a health facility to implement a do-not-resuscitate order without parental consent only if a qualified health professional determines resuscitation would be medically inappropriate, harmful, or futile, provided the facility made a diligent 48-hour effort to contact parents and documents this in the medical record.

• Prohibits implementation of do-not-resuscitate orders for minors if there is a pending court action or threat of litigation, requiring the facility to wait for a final court decision.