An Act amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in health care, further providing for definitions, for legislative findings and intent, for compliance, for conflicting advance health care directives, for life insurance, for health care instruments optional, for pregnancy and for liability, providing for prohibited conduct and damages, for judicial relief, for implementation, savings provision and transitional provision and for uniformity of application and construction, repealing provisions relating to living wills, providing for health care decisions and advance health care directives, repealing provisions relating to short title of * * *
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, specifically Title 20, to update and clarify the state’s Health Care Decisions Law. It expands the definition of ‘advance health care directive’ to include mental health care directives and clarifies procedures for designating and acting as a health care agent. The bill also addresses issues like conflicting directives, liability for health care providers, and the circumstances under which a living will becomes operative, while repealing outdated provisions related to living wills. It aims to provide a more comprehensive framework for individuals to make decisions about their healthcare in advance.
Key provisions
- Expands the definition of ‘advance health care directive’ to include advance mental health care directives.
- Clarifies procedures for designating and acting as a health care agent, including the roles of default and alternate agents.
- Addresses conflicting advance health care directives, prioritizing the most recent directive.
- Establishes guidelines for when a living will becomes operative, requiring notification to the attending physician.
- Outlines the circumstances under which a health care provider may refuse to comply with a living will, focusing on conflicts with the individual’s conscience or medical standards.
- Provides for judicial relief to address disputes regarding health care decisions.
- Includes provisions regarding liability for health care providers who comply with a living will.
- Addresses the application of living wills to pregnant women, ensuring continued care and potential state support.
Bill text
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Document of record
- Version
- Pn 3772 Html
- Published
- Not published in the source record
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
9 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Benjamin Sanchez
Danielle Friel Otten
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