ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                            S.B. 352

(2)     Emergency medical services "do not resuscitate orders" may not
authorize the withholding of medical interventions, or therapies deemed necessary to
provide comfort care or to alleviate pain.

(3)     A health care provider, other than certified or licensed emergency
medical services personnel, may provide, withhold, or withdraw treatment in
accordance with an emergency medical services "do not resuscitate order" described in
paragraph (1) of this subsection if a health care provider sees either the order or a
valid, legible, and patient identifying emergency medical services "do not resuscitate
order" in bracelet form.

5-608.1.

(A)     THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL DEVELOP A "PHYSICIAN
ORDERS FOR LIFE SUSTAINING TREATMENT PATIENT'S PLAN OF CARE" FORM TO
DOCUMENT THE TREATMENT PREFERENCES OF AN INDIVIDUAL RELATED TO
SUITABLE FOR SUMMARIZING THE PLAN OF CARE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, INCLUDING
THE ASPECTS OF THE PLAN OF CARE RELATED TO:

(1)      THE USE OF LIFE-SUSTAINING PROCEDURES; AND

(2)      TRANSFER TO A HOSPITAL FROM A NONHOSPITAL SETTING; AND

(3) ANY OTHER MATTER CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE BY THE OFFICE OF
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSES OF THE "PHYSICIAN
ORDERS FOR LIFE SUSTAINING TREATMENT" FORM.

(B)     THE "PHYSICIAN ORDERS FOR LIFE SUSTAINING TREATMENT PATIENT'S
PLAN OF CARE" FORM IS VOLUNTARY AND SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH:

(1)      THE DECISIONS OF:

(I) THE PATIENT IF THE PATIENT IS A COMPETENT INDIVIDUAL;
OR

(II) IF THE PATIENT IS INCAPABLE OF MAKING AN INFORMED
DECISION, A HEALTH CARE AGENT OR SURROGATE DECISION MAKER AS
AUTHORIZED BY THIS SUBTITLE; AND

(2)      ANY ADVANCE DIRECTIVE OF AN INDIVIDUAL THE PATIENT IF THE
PATIENT IS INCAPABLE OF MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION; AND

(3) THE DECISIONS OF A HEALTH CARE AGENT OR SURROGATE
DECISION MAKER AS AUTHORIZED BY THIS SUBTITLE.

(C)     THE "PHYSICIAN ORDERS FOR LIFE SUSTAINING TREATMENT PATIENT'S
PLAN OF CARE" FORM:

(1) MAY BE COMPLETED BY A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF AN ATTENDING PHYSICIAN;

- 2773 -