Section 20-6-302 - Legislative findingsThe General Assembly finds that:
(1) It is important for individuals to make healthcare decisions before a medical crisis or emergency occurs;(2) Healthcare planning is a process, rather than a single decision, that helps individuals think about the type of care that they would want if they become seriously ill or incapacitated, and encourages individuals to talk with their loved ones and physicians regarding their healthcare decisions;(3) An advance directive gives individuals the ability to put their wishes in writing and to identify another individual who would speak for them if they become unable to speak or make decisions for themselves;(4) The physician order for life-sustaining treatment form complements an advance directive, if existing, by taking an individual's intentions regarding life-sustaining treatment, such as the intentions set forth in an advance directive, and converting the individual's intentions into a medical order;(5) The hallmarks of a physician order for life-sustaining treatment form are that a physician order for life-sustaining treatment form:(A) Is: (ii) Immediately actionable as medical orders on a standardized form;(iii) A conspicuous, clearly identifiable form; and(iv) Recognized, adopted, and honored across treatment settings; and(B) Addresses a range of life-sustaining treatment interventions as well as the patient's preferred intensity of treatment for each intervention; and(6) The physician order for life-sustaining treatment form is used only for patients with a serious illness or medical frailty when a physician would not be surprised if the patient died within one (1) year.Added by Act 2017, No. 504,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017.