MN HF4665

Requires ethics or medical committee review when an attending physician refuses to comply with a patient's request for life-sustaining care or treatment, including artificially administered nutrition and hydration.

Allows committee to affirm physician's refusal only if care will cause substantial intractable pain with no grounds patient would want it, cause life-threatening complications with no better alternatives, or be useless in prolonging life due to inevitable terminal condition.

Prohibits committee from affirming refusal if patient is pregnant or if care cannot be provided without denying it to another patient.

Requires continued provision of all life-sustaining care, nutrition, hydration, and pain relief during review process unless care poses immediate threat to patient's life.

Limits physician and facility obligation to provide unwanted life-sustaining care to 21 calendar days after written committee decision unless patient obtains court extension to transfer to willing provider.