NY A03245

Expands the definition of "health care" in New York's public health law to explicitly include hydration and nutrition as medical treatments

Removes the existing requirement that health care agents must know the patient's specific wishes about artificial nutrition and hydration before making decisions on those measures

Allows health care proxy agents to make decisions about withholding or withdrawing artificial nutrition and hydration based on the patient's best interests when the patient's wishes are unknown

Updates the health care proxy form to encourage (but not require) individuals to state their wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment including hydration and nutrition

Takes effect 90 days after becoming law and applies to both existing and newly created health care proxies