HB0234 - Uniform Health Care Decisions Act.

 

2001

State of Wyoming

01LSO-0022

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL NO.  HB0234

 

 

Uniform Health Care Decisions Act.

 

Sponsored by:

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

 1  AN ACT relating to health care decisions; creating the
 2  Wyoming Health Care Decisions Act; providing definitions;
 3  specifying conditions for advance health care directives;
 4  establishing a uniform health care decisions form to be
 5  used for advance health care directives; specifying
 6  applicability of the act; conforming provisions; repealing
 7  provisions relating to living wills and durable powers of
 8  attorney for health care decisions; and providing for an
 9  effective date.

10 

11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

12 

13         Section 1.  W.S. 3-5-301 through 3-5-316 are created
14  to read:

15 

16                         ARTICLE 3

17              WYOMING HEALTH CARE DECISIONS ACT

 

Page  1

 

 

 

 1 

 2         3-5-301.  Short title.

 3 

 4  This act may be cited as the "Wyoming Health Care Decisions
 5  Act."

 6 

 7         3-5-302.  Definitions.

 8 

 9         (a)  As used in this act:

10  

11              (i)  "Advance health care directive" means an
12  individual instruction or a durable power of attorney for
13  health care;

14 

15              (ii)  "Agent" means an individual designated in a
16  durable power of attorney for health care to make a health
17  care decision for the individual granting the power;

18 

19              (iii)  "Capacity" means an individual's ability
20  to understand the significant benefits, risks and
21  alternatives to proposed health care and to make and
22  communicate a health care decision;

23 

 

Page  2

 

 

 

 1              (iv)  "Durable power of attorney" means the
 2  designation of an agent to make health care decisions for
 3  the individual granting the power;

 4 

 5              (v)  "Guardian" means a judicially appointed
 6  guardian or conservator having authority to make a health
 7  care decision for an individual;

 8 

 9              (vi)  "Health care" means any care, treatment,
10  service or procedure to maintain, diagnose or otherwise
11  affect an individual's physical or mental condition;

12 

13              (vii)  "Health care decision" means a decision
14  made by an individual or the individual's agent, guardian
15  or surrogate, with respect to the individual's health care,
16  including:

17 

18                   (A)  Selection and discharge of health care
19  providers and institutions;

20 

21                   (B)  Approval or disapproval of diagnostic
22  tests, surgical procedures, programs of medication and
23  orders not to resuscitate; and

24 

 

Page  3

 

 

 

 1                   (C)  Directions to provide, withhold or
 2  withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration and all other
 3  forms of health care.

 4 

 5              (viii)  "Health care institution" means an
 6  institution, facility or agency licensed, certified or
 7  otherwise authorized or permitted by law to provide health
 8  care in the ordinary course of business;

 9 

10              (ix)  "Health care provider" means an individual
11  licensed, certified or otherwise authorized or permitted by
12  the laws of this state to provide health care in the
13  ordinary course of business or practice of a profession;

14 

15              (x)  "Individual instruction" means an
16  individual's direction concerning a health care decision
17  for the individual;

18 

19              (xi)  "Physician" means an individual licensed to
20  practice medicine pursuant to W.S. 33-26-301 et seq.;

21 

22              (xii)  "Primary physician" means a physician
23  designated by an individual or the individual's agent,
24  guardian or surrogate to have primary responsibility for

Page  4

 

 

 

 1  the individual's health care or, in the absence of a
 2  designation or if the designated physician is not
 3  reasonably available, a physician who undertakes the
 4  responsibility;

 5 

 6              (xiii)  "Reasonably available" means readily
 7  available to be contacted without undue effort and willing
 8  and able to act in a timely manner considering the urgency
 9  or the patient's health care needs;

10 

11              (xiv)  "State" means a state of the United
12  States, the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of
13  Puerto Rico or a territory or insular possession subject to
14  the jurisdiction of the United States;

15 

16              (xv)  "Supervising health care provider" means
17  the primary physician or, if there is no primary physician
18  or the primary physician is not readily available, the
19  health care provider who has undertaken the primary
20  responsibility for an individual's health care;

21 

22              (xvi)  "Surrogate" means an individual, other
23  than a patient's agent or guardian authorized under this
24  act to make a health care decision for the patient;

 

Page  5

 

 

 

 1 

 2              (xvii)  "This act" means W.S. 3-5-301 through
 3  3-5-316.

 4 

 5         3-5-303.  Advance health care directives.

 6 

 7         (a)  An adult or emancipated minor may give an
 8  individual instruction for an advance health care
 9  directive. The instruction may be oral or written. The
10  instruction may be limited to take effect only if a
11  specified condition arises.

12 

13         (b)  An adult or emancipated minor may execute a
14  durable power of attorney for health care, which may
15  authorize the agent to make any health care decision the
16  principal could have made while having the capacity to do
17  so. The power remains in effect notwithstanding the
18  principal's later incapacity and may include individual
19  instructions. Unless related to the principal by blood,
20  marriage or adoption, an agent may not be an owner,
21  operator or employee of a residential or community care
22  facility at which the principal is receiving care. The
23  power of attorney shall be in writing and signed by the
24  principal.

 

Page  6

 

 

 

 1 

 2         (c)  A written advance health care directive shall be
 3  signed by at least two (2) witnesses each of whom witnessed
 4  either the signing of the instrument by the principal or
 5  the principal's acknowledgement of his signature on the
 6  instrument, each witness making the following declaration
 7  in substance: "I declare under penalty of false swearing
 8  under the laws of Wyoming that the person who signed or
 9  acknowledged this document is personally known to me to be
10  the principal; that the principal signed or acknowledged
11  this document in my presence; that the principal appears to
12  be of sound mind and under no duress, fraud or undue
13  pressure; that I am not the person appointed as agent by
14  this document; and that I am not a treating health care
15  provider, an employee of a treating health care provider,
16  the operator of a community care facility, an employee of
17  an operator of a community care facility, the operator of a
18  residential care facility nor an employee of an operator of
19  a residential care facility." At least one (1) of the
20  witnesses shall also sign the following declaration: "I
21  further declare under penalty of false swearing under the
22  laws of the state of Wyoming that I am not entitled to any
23  part of the estate of the principal upon the death of the

Page  7

 

 

 

 1  principal under a will now existing or by operation of
 2  law."

 3 

 4         (d)  Unless otherwise specified in a durable power of
 5  attorney for health care, the authority of an agent becomes
 6  effective only upon a determination that the principal
 7  lacks capacity, and ceases to be effective upon a
 8  determination that the principal has recovered capacity.

 9 

10         (e)  Unless otherwise specified in a written advance
11  health care directive, a determination that an individual
12  lacks or has recovered capacity, or that another condition
13  exists that affects an individual instruction or the
14  authority of an agent, shall be made by the primary
15  physician.

16 

17         (f)  An agent shall make a health care decision in
18  accordance with the principal's individual instructions, if
19  any, and other wishes to the extent known to the agent.
20  Otherwise, the agent shall make the decision in accordance
21  with the agent's determination of the principal's best
22  interest. In determining the principal's best interest, the
23  agent shall consider the principal's personal values to the
24  extent known to the agent.

 

Page  8

 

 

 

 1 

 2         (g)  A health care decision made by an agent for a
 3  principal is effective without judicial approval.

 4 

 5         (h)  A written advance health care directive may
 6  include the individual's nomination of a guardian of the
 7  individual.

 8 

 9         (j)  An advance health care directive is valid for
10  purposes of this act if it complies with this act,
11  regardless of when or where executed or communicated.

12 

13         3-5-304.  Revocation of advance health care directive.

14 

15         (a)  An individual may revoke the designation of an
16  agent only by a signed writing or by personally informing
17  the supervising health care provider.

18 

19         (b)  An individual may revoke all or part of an
20  advance health care directive, other than the designation
21  of an agent, at any time and in any manner that
22  communicates an intent to revoke.

23 

 

Page  9

 

 

 

 1         (c)  A health care provider, agent, guardian or
 2  surrogate who is informed of a revocation under this
 3  section shall promptly communicate the fact of the
 4  revocation to the supervising health care provider and to
 5  any health care institution at which the patient is
 6  receiving care.

 7 

 8         (d)  A decree of annulment or divorce revokes a
 9  previous designation of a spouse as agent unless otherwise
10  specified in the decree or in a durable power of attorney
11  for health care.

12 

13         (e)  An advance health care directive that conflicts
14  with an earlier advance health care directive revokes the
15  earlier directive to the extent of the conflict.

16 

17         3-5-305.  Optional form.

18 

19  The following form may, but need not, be used to create an
20  advance health care directive. The effect of this or any
21  other writing used to create an advance health care
22  directive shall be governed by the provisions of this act.
23  An individual may complete or modify all or any part of the
24  following form:

 

Page 10

 

 

 

 1 

 2                   ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE

 3                         EXPLANATION

 4 

 5  You have the right to give instruction about your own
 6  health care. You also have the right to name someone else
 7  to make health care decisions for you. This form lets you
 8  do either or both of these things. It also lets you express
 9  your wishes regarding donation of organs and the
10  designation of your primary physician. If you use this
11  form, you may complete or modify all or any part of it. You
12  are free to use a different form.

13 

14  Part one of this form is a durable power of attorney for
15  health care. Part one lets you name another individual as
16  agent to make health care decisions for you if you become
17  incapable of making your own decisions or if you want
18  someone else to make those decisions for you now even
19  though you are still capable. You may also name an
20  alternate agent to act for you. Unless related to you, your
21  agent may not be an owner, operator, or employee of a
22  residential care or community care facility at which you
23  are receiving care.

24 

25  Unless the form you sign limits the authority of your
26  agent, your agent may make all health care decisions for
27  you. The form has a place for you to limit the authority of
28  your agent. You need not limit the authority of your agent
29  if you wish to rely on your agent for all health care
30  decisions that may have to be made. If you choose not to
31  limit the authority of your agent, your agent will have the
32  right to:

33 

34         (a)  Consent or refuse consent to any care, treatment,
35  service or procedure to maintain, diagnose or otherwise
36  affect a physical or mental condition;

37 

38         (b)  Select or discharge health care providers and
39  institutions;

40 

41         (c)  Approve or disapprove diagnostic tests, surgical
42  procedures, programs of medication, and orders not to
43  resuscitate; and

 

Page 11

 

 

 

 1 

 2         (d)  Direct the provision, withholding or withdrawal
 3  of artificial nutrition and hydration and all other forms
 4  of health care.

 5 

 6  Part two of this form lets you give specific instructions
 7  about any aspect of your health care. Choices are provided
 8  for you to express your wishes regarding the provision,
 9  withholding or withdrawal of treatment to keep you alive,
10  including the provision of artificial nutrition and
11  hydration, as well as the provision of pain relief. Space
12  is also provided for you to add to the choices you have
13  made or for you to write out any additional wishes.

14 

15  Part three of the form lets you express an intention to
16  donate your bodily organs and tissues following your death.

17 

18  Part four of this form lets you designate a physician to
19  have primary responsibility for your health care.

20 

21  After completing this form, sign and date the form at the
22  end. It is required that you request two (2) other
23  individuals to sign as witnesses. Give a copy of the signed
24  and completed form to your physician, to any other health
25  care providers you may have, to any health care institution
26  at which you are receiving care, and to any health care
27  agents you have named. You should talk to the person you
28  have named as agent to make sure that he understands your
29  wishes and is willing to take the responsibility.

30 

31  You have the right to revoke this advance health care
32  directive or replace this form at any time.

33 

34                         PART 1

35              POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE

36 

37         (1)  DESIGNATION OF AGENT:  I designate the following
38  individual as my agent to make health care decisions for
39  me:

40 

41  ___________________________________________________________

42         (name of individual you choose as agent)

43 

44  ___________________________________________________________

45  (address)          (city)          (state)   (zip code)

46 

47  ___________________________________________________________

 

Page 12

 

 

 

 1  (home phone)                                 (work phone)

 2 

 3         OPTIONAL:  If I revoke my agent's authority or if my
 4  agent is not willing, able, or reasonably available to make
 5  a health care decision for me, I designate as my first
 6  alternate agent:

 7 

 8  ___________________________________________________________

 9  (name of individual you choose as first alternate agent)

10 

11  ___________________________________________________________

12  (address)          (city)          (state)   (zip code)

13 

14  ___________________________________________________________

15  (home phone)                                 (work phone)

16 

17         OPTIONAL:  If I revoke the authority of my agent and
18  first alternate agent or if neither is willing, able, or
19  reasonably available to make a health care decision for me,
20  I designate as my second alternate agent:

21 

22  ___________________________________________________________

23  (name of individual you choose as second alternate agent)

24 

25  ___________________________________________________________

26  (address)          (city)          (state)   (zip code)

27 

28  ___________________________________________________________

29  (home phone)                                 (work phone)

30 

31         (2)  AGENT'S AUTHORITY:  My agent is authorized to make
32  all health care decisions for me, including decisions to
33  provide, withhold or withdraw artificial nutrition and
34  hydration and all other forms of health care to keep me
35  alive, except as I state here:

36 

37  ___________________________________________________________

38  ___________________________________________________________

39  ___________________________________________________________

40  (Add additional sheets if needed)

41 

42         (3)  WHEN AGENT'S AUTHORITY BECOMES EFFECTIVE:  My
43  agent's authority becomes effective when my primary
44  physician determines that I am unable to make my own health
45  care decisions unless I mark the following box.  If I mark
46  this box
 my agent's authority to make health care
47  decisions for me takes effect immediately.

 

Page 13

 

 

 

 1 

 2         (4)  AGENT'S OBLIGATION:  My agent shall make health
 3  care decisions for me in accordance with this power of
 4  attorney for health care, any instructions I give in Part 2
 5  of this form and my other wishes to the extent known to my
 6  agent.  To the extent my wishes are unknown, my agent shall
 7  make health care decisions for me in accordance with what
 8  my agent determines to be in my best interest. In
 9  determining my best interest, my agent shall consider my
10  personal values to the extent known to my agent.

11 

12         (5)  NOMINATION OF GUARDIAN:  If a guardian of my
13  person needs to be appointed for me by a court, I nominate
14  the agent designated in this form. If that agent is not
15  willing, able or reasonably available to act as guardian, I
16  nominate the alternate agents whom I have named, in the
17  order designated.

18 

19                         PART 2

20              INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE

21 

22  If you are satisfied to allow your agent to determine what
23  is best for you in making end-of-life decisions, you need
24  not fill out this part of the form.  If you do fill out
25  this part of the form, you may strike any wording you do
26  not want.

27 

28         (6)  END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS:  I direct my health care
29  providers and others involved in my care to provide,
30  withhold or withdraw treatment in accordance with the
31  choice I have marked below:

32 

33           (a)  Choice Not To Prolong Life

34 

35  I do not want my life prolonged if: (i) I have an incurable
36  and irreversible condition that will result in my death
37  within a relatively short time; (ii) I become unconscious
38  and, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, I will
39  not regain consciousness; or (iii) the likely risks and
40  burdens of treatment would outweigh the expected benefits,
41  OR

42 

43           (b)  Choice To Prolong Life

44 

45  I want my life to be prolonged as long as possible within
46  the limits of generally accepted health care standards.

47 

 

Page 14

 

 

 

 1         (7)  ARTIFICIAL NUTRITION AND HYDRATION: Artificial
 2  nutrition and artificial hydration must be provided,
 3  withheld or withdrawn in accordance with the choice I have
 4  made in paragraph (6) unless I mark the following box. If I
 5  mark this box
, artificial nutrition and hydration must be
 6  provided regardless of my condition and regardless of the
 7  choice I have made in paragraph (6).

 8 

 9         (8)  RELIEF FROM PAIN:  Except as I state in the
10  following space, I direct that treatment for alleviation of
11  pain or discomfort be provided at all times, even if it
12  hastens my death

13  ___________________________________________________________

14  ___________________________________________________________

15 

16         (9)  OTHER WISHES: (If you do not agree with any of
17  the optional choices above and wish to write your own, or
18  if you wish to add to the instructions you have given
19  above, you may do so here.) I direct that:

20 

21  ___________________________________________________________

22  ___________________________________________________________

23  (Add additional sheets if needed.)

24 

25                         PART 3

26              DONATION OF ORGANS AT DEATH

27                         (OPTIONAL)

28 

29         (10)  Upon my death (mark applicable box)

30 

31    (a)  I give any needed organs, tissues, or parts, OR

32 

33    (b)  I give the following organs, tissues, or parts only
34  __________________________________________________________

35 

36         (c)  My gift is for the following purposes (strike any
37  of the following you do not want)

38 

39              (i)  Transplant

40 

41              (ii)  Therapy

42 

43              (iii)  Research

44 

45              (iv)  Education

46 

 

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 1                         PART 4

 2                   PRIMARY PHYSICIAN

 3                      (OPTIONAL)

 4 

 5         (11)  I designate the following physician as my
 6  primary physician:

 7  ___________________________________________________________

 8  (name of physician)

 9 

10  ___________________________________________________________

11       (address)         (city)       (state)     (zip code)

12 

13  ___________________________________________________________

14  (phone)

15 

16         OPTIONAL: If the physician I have designated above is
17  not willing, able or reasonably available to act as my
18  primary physician, I designate the following physician as
19  my primary physician:

20  ___________________________________________________________

21  (name of physician)

22  ___________________________________________________________

23       (address)         (city)       (state)     (zip code)

24 

25  ___________________________________________________________

26                         (phone)

27 

28                    ********************

29 

30         (12)  EFFECT OF COPY: A copy of this form has the same
31  effect as the original.

32 

33         (13)  SIGNATURES: Sign and date the form here:

34 

35  __________________________      ___________________________

36          (date)                   (sign your name)

37 

38  __________________________      ___________________________

39         (address)                  (print your name)

40 

41  ___________________________

42     (city)         (state)

43 

44  SIGNATURES OF WITNESSES:

45 

46  I declare under penalty under the laws of Wyoming that the
47  person who signed or acknowledged this document is

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 1  personally known to me to be the principal, that the
 2  principal signed or acknowledged this advance health care
 3  directive in my presence, that the principal appears to be
 4  of sound mind and under no duress, fraud, or undue
 5  influence, that I am not the person appointed as agent by
 6  this document, and that I am not a treating health care
 7  provider, an employee of a treating health care provider,
 8  the operator of a community care facility, an employee of a
 9  community care facility, the operator of a residential care
10  facility, nor an employee of a residential care facility.

11 

12         First witness             Second witness

13 

14  __________________________      ___________________________

15        (print name)              (print name)

16 

17  __________________________      ___________________________

18         (address)                   (address)

19 

20  __________________________      ___________________________

21     (city)      (state)         (city)         (state)

22 

23  __________________________      ___________________________

24   (signature of witness)       (signature of witness)

25 

26  __________________________      ___________________________

27         (date)                        (date)

28 

29  I further declare under penalty of perjury under the laws
30  of Wyoming that I am not related to the principal by blood,
31  marriage, or adoption, and, to the best of my knowledge, I
32  am not entitled to any part of the estate of the principal
33  upon the death of the principal under a will now existing
34  or by operation of law.

35 

36            Witness

37  

38  ___________________________

39      (Signature of witness)

40 

41         3-5-306.  Decisions by surrogate.

42 

43         (a)  A surrogate may make a health care decision for a
44  patient who is an adult or emancipated minor if the patient

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 1  has been determined by the primary physician to lack
 2  capacity and no agent or guardian has been appointed or the
 3  agent or guardian is not reasonably available.

 4 

 5         (b)  An adult or emancipated minor may designate any
 6  individual to act as surrogate by personally informing the
 7  supervising health care provider. In the absence of a
 8  designation, or if the designee is not reasonably
 9  available, any member of the following classes of the
10  patient's family who is reasonably available, in descending
11  order of priority, may act as surrogate:

12 

13              (i)  The spouse, unless legally separated;

14 

15              (ii)  An adult child;

16 

17              (iii)  A parent; or

18 

19              (iv)  An adult brother or sister.

20 

21         (c)  If none of the individuals eligible to act as
22  surrogate under subsection (b) of this section is
23  reasonably available, any adult who has exhibited special
24  care and concern for the patient, who is familiar with

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 1  patient's personal values and who is reasonably available
 2  may act as surrogate.

 3 

 4         (d)  A surrogate shall communicate his assumption of
 5  authority as promptly as practicable to the members of the
 6  patient's family specified in subsection (b) of this
 7  section who can be readily contacted.

 8 

 9         (e)  If more than one (1) member of a class assumes
10  authority to act as surrogate, and they do not agree on a
11  health care decision and the supervising health care
12  provider is so informed, the supervising health care
13  provider shall comply with the decision of a majority of
14  the members of that class who have communicated their views
15  to the provider. If the class is evenly divided concerning
16  the health care decision and the supervising health care
17  provider is so informed, that class and all individuals
18  having lower priority are disqualified from making the
19  decision.

20 

21         (f)  A surrogate shall make a health care decision in
22  accordance with the patient's individual instructions, if
23  any, and other wishes to the extent known to the surrogate.
24  Otherwise, the surrogate shall make the decision in

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 1  accordance with the surrogate's determination of the
 2  patient's best interest. In determining the patient's best
 3  interest, the surrogate shall consider the patient's
 4  personal values to the extent known to the surrogate.

 5 

 6         (g)  A surrogate may not make health care decisions
 7  with respect to the following:

 8 

 9              (i)  Commitment of the patient to a mental health
10  hospital or other mental health facility;

11 

12              (ii)  Electroshock therapy;

13 

14              (iii)  Psychosurgery;

15 

16              (iv)  Sterilization; and

17 

18              (v)  Other long-term or permanent contraception.

19 

20         (h)  A health care decision made by a surrogate for a
21  patient is effective without judicial approval.

22 

23         (j)  An individual at any time may disqualify another,
24  including a member of the individual's family, from acting

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 1  as the individual's surrogate by a signed writing or by
 2  personally informing the supervising health care provider
 3  of the disqualification.

 4 

 5         (k)  Unless related to the patient by blood, marriage
 6  or adoption, a surrogate may not be an owner, operator or
 7  employee of a residential or community care facility at
 8  which the patient is receiving care.

 9 

10         (m)  A supervising health care provider may require an
11  individual claiming the right to act as surrogate for a
12  patient to provide a written declaration under penalty of
13  false swearing stating facts and circumstances reasonably
14  sufficient to establish the claimed authority.

15 

16         3-5-307.  Decisions by guardian.

17 

18         (a)  A guardian shall comply with the ward's
19  individual instructions and may not revoke the ward's
20  advance health care directive unless the appointing court
21  expressly authorizes the revocation.

22 

 

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 1         (b)  Absent a court order to the contrary, a health
 2  care decision of an agent takes precedence over that of a
 3  guardian.

 4 

 5         (c)  A health care decision made by a guardian for the
 6  ward is effective without judicial approval, except the
 7  following:

 8 

 9              (i)  Commitment of the ward to a mental health
10  hospital or other mental health facility;

11 

12              (ii)  Electroshock therapy;

13 

14              (iii)  Psychosurgery;

15 

16              (iv)  Sterilization; and

17 

18              (v)  Other long-term permanent contraception.

19 

20         3-5-308.  Obligations of health care provider.

21 

22         (a)  Before implementing a health care decision made
23  for a patient, a supervising health care provider, if
24  possible, shall promptly communicate to the patient the

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 1  decision made and the identity of the person making the
 2  decision.

 3 

 4         (b)  A supervising health care provider who knows of
 5  the existence of an advance health care directive, a
 6  revocation of an advance health care directive, or a
 7  designation or disqualification of a surrogate, shall
 8  promptly record its existence in the patient's health care
 9  record and, if it is in writing, shall request a copy and
10  if a copy is furnished shall arrange for its maintenance in
11  the health care record.

12 

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

22 

 

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 1         (d)  Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f) of
 2  this section, a health care provider or institution
 3  providing care to a patient shall:

 4 

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

 9 

10              (ii)  Comply with a health care decision for the
11  patient made by a person then authorized to make health
12  care decisions for the patient to the same extent as if the
13  decision had been made by the patient while having
14  capacity.

15 

16         (e)  A health care provider may decline to comply with
17  an individual instruction or health care decision for
18  reasons of conscience. A health care institution may
19  decline to comply with an individual instruction or health
20  care decision if the instruction or decision is contrary to
21  a written policy of the institution which is expressly
22  based on reasons of conscience and if the policy was timely
23  communicated to the patient or to a person then authorized
24  to make health care decisions for the patient.

 

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 1 

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

 8 

 9         (g)  A health care provider or institution that
10  declines to comply with an individual instruction or health
11  care decision shall:

12 

13              (i)  Promptly so inform the patient, if possible,
14  and any person then authorized to make health care
15  decisions for the patient;

16 

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

19 

20              (iii)  Unless the patient or person then
21  authorized to make health care decisions for the patient
22  refuses assistance, immediately make all reasonable efforts
23  to assist in the transfer of the patient to another health

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 1  care provider or institution that is willing to comply with
 2  the instruction or decision.

 3 

 4         (h)  A health care provider or institution may not
 5  require or prohibit the execution or revocation of an
 6  advance health care directive as a condition for providing
 7  health care.

 8 

 9         3-5-309.  Health care information.

10 

11  Unless otherwise specified in an advance health care
12  directive, a person then authorized to make health care
13  decisions for a patient has the same rights as the patient
14  to request, receive, examine, copy and consent to the
15  disclosure of medical or any other health care information.

16 

17         3-5-310.  Immunities.

18 

19         (a)  A health care provider or institution acting in
20  good faith and in accordance with generally accepted health
21  care standards applicable to the health care provider or
22  institution is not subject to civil or criminal liability
23  or to discipline for unprofessional conduct for:

24 

 

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 1              (i)  Complying with a health care decision of a
 2  person apparently having authority to make a health care
 3  decision for a patient, including a decision to withhold or
 4  withdraw health care;

 5 

 6             (ii)  Declining to comply with a health care
 7  decision of a person based on a belief that the person then
 8  lacked authority; or

 9 

10            (iii)  Complying with an advance health care
11  directive and assuming that the directive was valid when
12  made and has not been revoked or terminated.

13 

14         (b)  An individual acting as agent or surrogate under
15  this act is not subject to civil or criminal liability or
16  to discipline for unprofessional conduct for health care
17  decisions made in good faith under this act.

18 

19         3-5-311.  Penalties.

20 

21         (a)  A health care provider or institution that
22  intentionally violates this act is subject to liability to
23  the aggrieved individual for damages of five hundred
24  dollars ($500.00) or actual damages resulting from the

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 1  violation, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's
 2  fees.

 3 

 4         (b)  A person who intentionally falsifies, forges,
 5  conceals, defaces or obliterates an individual's advance
 6  health care directive or a revocation of an advance health
 7  care directive without the individual's consent, or who
 8  coerces or fraudulently induces an individual to give,
 9  revoke or not to give an advance health care directive, is
10  subject to liability to that individual for damages of two
11  thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) or actual damages
12  resulting from the actions, whichever is greater, plus
13  reasonable attorney's fees.

14 

15         3-5-312.  Capacity.

16 

17         (a)  This act does not affect the right of an
18  individual to make health care decisions while having
19  capacity to do so.

20 

21         (b)  An individual is presumed to have capacity to
22  make a health care decision, to give or revoke an advance
23  health care directive, and to designate or disqualify a
24  surrogate.

 

Page 28

 

 

 

 1 

 2         3-5-313.  Effect of copy.

 3 

 4  A copy of a written advance health care directive,
 5  revocation of an advance health care directive, or
 6  designation or disqualification of a surrogate has the same
 7  effect as the original.

 8 

 9         3-5-314.  Effect of act.

10 

11         (a)  This act does not create a presumption concerning
12  the intention of an individual who has not made or who has
13  revoked an advance health care directive.

14 

15         (b)  Death resulting from the withholding or
16  withdrawal of health care in accordance with this act does
17  not for any purpose constitute a suicide or homicide or
18  legally impair or invalidate a policy of insurance or an
19  annuity providing a death benefit, notwithstanding any term
20  of the policy or annuity to the contrary.

21 

22         (c)  This act does not authorize mercy killing,
23  assisted suicide, euthanasia, or the provision, withholding

Page 29

 

 

 

 1  or withdrawal of health care, to the extent prohibited by
 2  other statutes of this state.

 3 

 4         (d)  This act does not authorize or require a health
 5  care provider or institution to provide health care
 6  contrary to generally accepted health care standards
 7  applicable to the health care provider or institution.

 8 

 9         (e)  This act does not affect other laws of Wyoming
10  governing treatment for mental illness of an individual
11  involuntarily committed to a mental health care institution
12  pursuant to law.

13 

14         3-5-315.  Uniformity of application and construction.

15 

16  This act shall be applied and construed to effectuate its
17  general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the
18  subject matter of this act among states enacting it.

19 

20         3-5-316.  Severability clause.

21 

22  If any provision of this act or its application to any
23  person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does
24  not affect other provisions or applications of this act

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 1  which can be given without the invalid provisions or
 2  application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
 3  severable.

 4 

 5         Section 2.  W.S. 3-2-202(a)(iv) is amended to read:

 6  

 7         3-2-202.  Powers of the guardian subject to approval
 8  of the court.

 9 

10         (a)  Upon order of the court, after notice and hearing
11  and appointment of a guardian ad litem, the guardian may:

12 

13              (iv)  Execute any appropriate advance medical
14  directives, including durable power of attorney for health
15  care under W.S. 3-5-201 et seq. and living will under W.S.
16  35-22-101 et seq3-5-301 et seq.

17 

18         Section 3.  W.S. 3-5-201 through 3-5-213 and 35-22-101
19  through 35-22-109 are repealed.

20 

21         Section 4.  This act is effective July 1, 2001.

22 

23                         (END)

 

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