SB 163 – Require Parental Notification for DNR Orders

Primary Sponsors: Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth), Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Avery), Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Madison)

Bill Summary

This bill requires parental notification and agreement prior to issuing an order to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other life prolonging measures from patients who are unemancipated minors.

The bill would require a physician not to issue an order to withhold pulmonary resuscitation or life prolonging measures unless the physician has done one of the following:

  • informed at least one of the patient’s parents or legal guardians
  • made a reasonable attempt to inform the patient’s other parent

The bill states that physicians are responsible for ensuring that all communications made or attempted are documented in the patient’s medical record. The bill also requires the following information to be included: date, time, persons contacted, if the communication was oral or written.

The bill states that if a parent/guardian objects to a DNR that the physician shall document this in the medical record.

The bill states that if the patient’s parents/legal guardians are unable to agree on the issuance of a DNR, the parent or legal guardian may petition the district court in the county in which the legal guardian resides, or where the patient is receiving treatment for an order in violation of this section. The bill prohibits a physician from issuing a DNR in any case where the parents/legal guardians are unable to agree on the issuance of a DNR order.

 

Bill Movement

This bill was filed on February 27, 2019.

This bill was referred to the Senate Rules Committee on February 28, 2019.