NY S07596

Amends public health law to require attending health care practitioners to offer patients diagnosed with terminal illness (expected to cause death within six months) information and counseling on palliative care and end-of-life options appropriate to the patient's circumstances.

Practitioners must provide information on the range of appropriate options, prognosis, risks and benefits of various treatment options, and the patient's legal rights to comprehensive pain and symptom management.

Adds requirement that practitioners also provide information regarding other appropriate treatment options should the patient wish to initiate or continue treatment.

If the attending practitioner is unwilling or does not feel qualified to provide such information, they must arrange for another qualified physician or nurse practitioner to do so or refer the patient to one who will.

Takes effect 180 days after becoming law.