NY A03824

Prohibits hospitals, nursing homes, residential health care facilities, and health-related service facilities from withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment or discharging patients over the objection of the patient or their designated health care agent or surrogate decision-maker

Requires facilities to contact a patient's surrogate health care decision-maker before withholding, withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, or discharging an incapacitated patient

Prevents facilities from withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment or discharging patients if there is reason to believe such action conflicts with the patient's religious beliefs, unless the patient provides written consent

Requires that written consent for withholding or withdrawal of treatment be witnessed by at least one adult age eighteen or older who is not the patient's health care decision-maker

Takes effect immediately upon enactment