MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A

By: Representative Perry

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-41-215, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE CONSENT PROVISIONS FOR CERTAIN PERSONS UNDER THE UNIFORM HEALTH-CARE DECISIONS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 41-41-215, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-41-215. (1) Before implementing a health-care decision made for a patient, a supervising health-care provider, if possible, shall promptly communicate to the patient the decision made and the identity of the person making the decision.

(2) A supervising health-care provider who knows of the existence of an advance health-care directive, a revocation of an advance health-care directive, or a designation or disqualification of a surrogate, shall promptly record its existence in the patient's health-care record and, if it is in writing, shall request a copy and if one is furnished shall arrange for its maintenance in the health-care record.

(3) A primary physician who makes or is informed of a determination that a patient lacks or has recovered capacity, or that another condition exists which affects an individual instruction or the authority of an agent, guardian, or surrogate, shall promptly record the determination in the patient's health-care record and communicate the determination to the patient, if possible, and to any person then authorized to make health-care decisions for the patient.

(4) Except as provided in subsections (5) and (6), a health-care provider or institution providing care to a patient shall:

(a) Comply with an individual instruction of the patient and with a reasonable interpretation of that instruction made by a person then authorized to make health-care decisions for the patient; and

(b) Comply with a health-care decision for the patient made by a person then authorized to make health-care decisions for the patient to the same extent as if the decision had been made by the patient while having capacity.

(5) A health-care provider may decline to comply with an individual instruction or health-care decision for reasons of conscience. A health-care institution may decline to comply with an individual instruction or health-care decision if the instruction or decision is contrary to a policy of the institution which is expressly based on reasons of conscience and if the policy was timely communicated to the patient or to a person then authorized to make health-care decisions for the patient.

(6) A health-care provider or institution may decline to comply with an individual instruction or health-care decision that requires medically ineffective health care or health care contrary to generally accepted health-care standards applicable to the health-care provider or institution.

(7) A health-care provider or institution that declines to comply with an individual instruction or health-care decision shall:

(a) Promptly so inform the patient, if possible, and any person then authorized to make health-care decisions for the patient;

(b) Provide continuing care to the patient until a transfer can be effected; and

(c) Unless the patient or person then authorized to make health-care decisions for the patient refuses assistance, immediately make all reasonable efforts to assist in the transfer of the patient to another health-care provider or institution that is willing to comply with the instruction or decision.

(8) A health-care provider or institution may not require or prohibit the execution or revocation of an advance health-care directive as a condition for providing health care.

(9) If the patient who is an adult or emancipated minor has been determined by the primary physician to lack capacity to make a health-care decision and an agent, guardian or surrogate is not reasonably available, consent may be given by an owner, operator or employee of a residential long-term health care institution at which the patient is a resident if there is no advance health-care directive to the contrary and a licensed physician who is not an owner, operator or employee of the residential long-term health care institution at which the patient is a resident has determined that the patient is in need of health care. This power to consent is limited to the terms of this subsection (9) and shall not be construed to repeal or otherwise affect the prohibition of Section 41-41-211(9) relating to owners, operators, or employees of long-term health care institutions. The consent given pursuant to this subsection shall be limited to the health care services determined necessary by the licensed physician and shall in no event include the power to consent to or direct withholding or discontinuing any life support, nutrition, hydration or other treatment, care or support. When consent is obtained under this subsection, compliance with these requirements shall be stated in the patient's health-care record.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.