Bill Text: NY S01926 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Relates to executing living wills and establishing a health care representative to make health care decisions when a health care agent has not been appointed or living will has not been created.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - REFERRED TO HEALTH [S01926 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-S01926-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         1926
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                   February 10, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sen.  DUANE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
         printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
       AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to  executing  living
         wills  and  establishing  a  health care representative to make health
         care decisions when a health care agent  has  not  been  appointed  or
         living will has not been created
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. The article heading of article 29-C of  the  public  health
    2  law,  as added by chapter 752 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as
    3  follows:
    4                      HEALTH CARE AGENTS [AND], PROXIES,
    5                HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVES AND LIVING WILLS
    6    S 2. Section 2980 of the public health law is amended by adding  three
    7  new subdivisions 3-a, 6-a and 9-a to read as follows:
    8    3-A.    "END-STAGE MEDICAL CONDITION" MEANS AN INCURABLE AND IRREVERS-
    9  IBLE MEDICAL CONDITION IN AN ADVANCED STATE CAUSED BY INJURY, DISEASE OR
   10  PHYSICAL ILLNESS THAT WILL, IN THE OPINION OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN TO
   11  A REASONABLE DEGREE OF MEDICAL CERTAINTY, RESULT IN DEATH,  DESPITE  THE
   12  INTRODUCTION  OR  CONTINUATION  OF  MEDICAL TREATMENT. EXCEPT AS SPECIF-
   13  ICALLY SET FORTH IN AN ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE, SUCH TERM  IS  NOT
   14  INTENDED  TO  PRECLUDE  TREATMENT  OF  A  DISEASE,  ILLNESS OR PHYSICAL,
   15  MENTAL, COGNITIVE OR INTELLECTUAL CONDITION, EVEN IF INCURABLE AND IRRE-
   16  VERSIBLE AND REGARDLESS OF SEVERITY, IF BOTH OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY:
   17    (A) THE PATIENT WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE  MEDICAL  TREATMENT,  INCLUDING
   18  PALLIATIVE CARE.
   19    (B) SUCH TREATMENT WOULD NOT MERELY PROLONG THE PROCESS OF DYING.
   20    6-A. "HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZED UNDER
   21  SECTION  TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO-A OF THIS ARTICLE TO MAKE HEALTH
   22  CARE DECISIONS FOR A PRINCIPAL.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD01370-01-9
       S. 1926                             2
    1    9-A. "LIVING WILL" MEANS A LEGAL DOCUMENT IN WHICH A  COMPETENT  ADULT
    2  STATES, IN ADVANCE OF FINAL ILLNESS OR INJURY, HIS OR HER WISHES REGARD-
    3  ING  THE  USE  OF  MEDICAL   PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT DESIGNED TO EXTEND
    4  LIFE.
    5    S  3.  The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2981-a
    6  to read as follows:
    7    S 2981-A.  LIVING WILLS; EXECUTION; FORM. 1.  A  COMPETENT  ADULT  MAY
    8  EXECUTE  A LIVING WILL, SIGNED AND DATED BY THE ADULT IN THE PRESENCE OF
    9  A NOTARY AND TWO ADULT WITNESSES WHO SHALL ALSO SIGN THE  WILL.  ANOTHER
   10  PERSON  MAY  SIGN AND DATE THE LIVING WILL FOR THE ADULT IF THE ADULT IS
   11  UNABLE TO DO SO, AT THE ADULT'S DIRECTION AND IN THE ADULT'S   PRESENCE,
   12  AND  IN THE PRESENCE OF TWO ADULT WITNESSES WHO SHALL SIGN THE WILL. THE
   13  TWO WITNESSES SHALL STATE THAT THE PRINCIPAL  APPEARED  TO  EXECUTE  THE
   14  PROXY WILLINGLY AND FREE FROM DURESS.
   15    2. (A) FOR PERSONS WHO RESIDE IN A MENTAL HYGIENE FACILITY OPERATED OR
   16  LICENSED  BY  THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SHALL BE
   17  AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE FACILITY AND, IF THE MENTAL
   18  HYGIENE FACILITY IS ALSO A HOSPITAL AS DEFINED  IN  SUBDIVISION  TEN  OF
   19  SECTION  1.03 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SHALL BE A
   20  QUALIFIED PSYCHIATRIST.
   21    (B) FOR PERSONS WHO RESIDE IN A MENTAL HYGIENE  FACILITY  OPERATED  OR
   22  LICENSED BY THE OFFICE OF MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILI-
   23  TIES,  AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SHALL BE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS NOT AFFILIATED
   24  WITH THE FACILITY AND AT LEAST ONE WITNESS SHALL BE A PHYSICIAN OR CLIN-
   25  ICAL PSYCHOLOGIST WHO EITHER IS EMPLOYED BY A SCHOOL  NAMED  IN  SECTION
   26  13.17  OF  THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW OR WHO HAS BEEN EMPLOYED FOR A MINIMUM
   27  OF TWO YEARS TO RENDER CARE  AND  SERVICE  IN  A  FACILITY  OPERATED  OR
   28  LICENSED BY THE OFFICE OF MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILI-
   29  TIES, OR WHO HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL RETARDATION
   30  AND  DEVELOPMENTAL  DISABILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS APPROVED
   31  BY THE COMMISSIONER. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL REQUIRE THAT A PHYSICIAN  OR
   32  CLINICAL  PSYCHOLOGIST POSSESS SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR THREE YEARS EXPE-
   33  RIENCE IN TREATING DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
   34    3.(A) A LIVING WILL SHALL INCLUDE: (I) THE IDENTITY OF THE  PRINCIPAL;
   35  (II)  THE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL IF AND WHEN THE PRINCI-
   36  PAL BECOMES PERMANENTLY UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH FINAL HEALTH  CARE
   37  DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE; (III) THE DULY NOTARIZED SIGNATURE OF THE PRIN-
   38  CIPAL; AND (IV) THE SIGNATURE AND STATEMENT OF TWO ADULT WITNESSES.
   39    (B) A LIVING WILL MAY, BUT NEED NOT, BE IN THE FOLLOWING FORM:
   40    NEW YORK LIVING WILL
   41    I,                          , BEING OF SOUND MIND, MAKE THIS STATEMENT
   42  AS A DIRECTIVE TO BE FOLLOWED IF I BECOME PERMANENTLY UNABLE TO  PARTIC-
   43  IPATE  IN  DECISIONS    REGARDING  MY  MEDICAL  CARE. THESE INSTRUCTIONS
   44  REFLECT MY FIRM AND SETTLED COMMITMENT TO    DECLINE  MEDICAL  TREATMENT
   45  UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATED BELOW:
   46    I DIRECT MY ATTENDING PHYSICIAN TO WITHHOLD OR WITHDRAW TREATMENT THAT
   47  MERELY PROLONGS MY DYING, IF I SHOULD BE IN AN INCURABLE OR IRREVERSIBLE
   48  MENTAL OR PHYSICAL CONDITION WITH NO REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF RECOVERY,
   49  INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: (A) A TERMINAL CONDITION; (B) A PERMANENT-
   50  LY  UNCONSCIOUS CONDITION; OR (C) MINIMALLY CONSCIOUS CONDITION IN WHICH
   51  I AM PERMANENTLY UNABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS OR EXPRESS MY WISHES.
   52    I DIRECT THAT MY TREATMENT BE LIMITED TO MEASURES TO KEEP ME COMFORTA-
   53  BLE AND TO RELIEVE PAIN, INCLUDING ANY PAIN THAT MIGHT  OCCUR  BY  WITH-
   54  HOLDING OR WITHDRAWING TREATMENT.
       S. 1926                             3
    1    WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT
    2  FUTURE  TREATMENTS  IF  I  AM IN THE CONDITION(S) DESCRIBED ABOVE I FEEL
    3  ESPECIALLY STRONGLY ABOUT THE FOLLOWING FORMS OF TREATMENT:
    4    ( ) I DO/( ) I DO NOT WANT CARDIAC RESUSCITATION. ________ INITIAL
    5    ( ) I DO/( ) I DO NOT WANT MECHANICAL RESUSCITATION. _______ INITIAL
    6    ( ) I DO/( ) I DO NOT WANT ARTIFICIAL NUTRITION AND HYDRATION.
    7          ________ INITIAL
    8    ( ) I DO/( ) I DO NOT WANT ANTIBIOTICS. _______ INITIAL
    9    (  ) I DO/( ) I DO NOT WANT MAXIMUM PAIN RELIEF, EVEN IF IT MAY HASTEN
   10        MY DEATH. ________ INITIAL   OTHER DIRECTIONS:
   11  THESE DIRECTIONS EXPRESS MY LEGAL RIGHT TO REFUSE TREATMENT,  UNDER  THE
   12  LAW  OF  NEW  YORK. I INTEND MY INSTRUCTIONS TO BE CARRIED OUT, UNLESS I
   13  HAVE RESCINDED THEM IN A NEW WRITING OR BY  CLEARLY  INDICATING  THAT  I
   14  HAVE CHANGED MY MIND.
   15  SIGNED ___________________ DATE ___________________________ ADDRESS
   16  ________________________________________________________________________
   17  I  DECLARE  THAT THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS DOCUMENT APPEARED TO EXECUTE
   18  THE LIVING WILL WILLINGLY AND FREE FROM DURESS. HE  OR  SHE  SIGNED  (OR
   19  ASKED ANOTHER TO SIGN FOR HIM OR HER) THIS DOCUMENT IN MY PRESENCE.
   20  WITNESS 1 _________________________________________________________
   21  ADDRESS ___________________________________________________________
   22  WITNESS 2 _________________________________________________________
   23  ADDRESS ___________________________________________________________
   24    S  4.  The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2982-a
   25  to read as follows:
   26    S 2982-A.   APPOINTMENT OF  HEALTH  CARE  REPRESENTATIVE;  RIGHTS  AND
   27  DUTIES. 1.  A HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE MAY MAKE A HEALTH CARE DECISION
   28  FOR  AN  INDIVIDUAL  WHOSE  ATTENDING  PHYSICIAN HAS DETERMINED THAT THE
   29  INDIVIDUAL IS INCOMPETENT IF:
   30    (A) THE INDIVIDUAL IS AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF  AGE,  HAS  GRADUATED
   31  FROM HIGH SCHOOL, HAS MARRIED OR IS AN EMANCIPATED MINOR;
   32    (B)  (I) THE INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT HAVE A HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY;
   33  OR
   34    (II) THE INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH CARE AGENT IS NOT REASONABLY AVAILABLE OR
   35  HAS INDICATED AN UNWILLINGNESS TO ACT AND NO ALTERNATE HEALTH CARE AGENT
   36  IS REASONABLY AVAILABLE; AND
   37    (C) A GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON TO MAKE HEALTH  CARE  DECISIONS  HAS  NOT
   38  BEEN APPOINTED FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.
   39    2.  THIS SECTION APPLIES TO DECISIONS REGARDING TREATMENT, CARE, GOODS
   40  OR SERVICES THAT A CARETAKER IS OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE TO A CARE-DEPENDENT
   41  PERSON WHO HAS AN END-STAGE MEDICAL CONDITION OR IS  PERMANENTLY  UNCON-
   42  SCIOUS.
   43    3.  THE  AUTHORITY  AND  THE  DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF A HEALTH CARE
   44  REPRESENTATIVE SHALL BE THE SAME AS PROVIDED FOR A HEALTH CARE AGENT  IN
   45  SECTION TWENTY-NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO OF THIS ARTICLE.
   46    4.    (A)  AN  INDIVIDUAL OF SOUND MIND MAY, BY A SIGNED WRITING OR BY
   47  PERSONALLY INFORMING THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR THE HEALTH CARE  PROVID-
   48  ER,  DESIGNATE  ONE  OR MORE INDIVIDUALS TO ACT AS HEALTH CARE REPRESEN-
   49  TATIVE. IN THE ABSENCE OF A DESIGNATION OR IF NO DESIGNEE IS  REASONABLY
   50  AVAILABLE  ANY  MEMBER  OF THE FOLLOWING CLASSES, IN DESCENDING ORDER OF
   51  PRIORITY, WHO IS REASONABLY AVAILABLE, MAY ACT AS HEALTH CARE  REPRESEN-
   52  TATIVE:
   53    (I)  THE  SPOUSE  OR DOMESTIC PARTNER, UNLESS AN ACTION FOR DIVORCE IS
   54  PENDING, AND THE ADULT CHILDREN OF THE PRINCIPAL WHO ARE NOT  THE  CHIL-
   55  DREN OF THE SPOUSE.
   56    (II) AN ADULT CHILD.
       S. 1926                             4
    1    (III) A PARENT.
    2    (IV) AN ADULT BROTHER OR SISTER.
    3    (V) AN ADULT GRANDCHILD.
    4    (VI)  AN  ADULT  WHO  HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PRINCIPAL'S PREFERENCES AND
    5  VALUES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RELIGIOUS AND MORAL  BELIEFS,  TO
    6  ASSESS HOW THE PRINCIPAL WOULD MAKE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS.
    7    (B) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY BY SIGNED WRITING, INCLUDING A HEALTH CARE POWER
    8  OF ATTORNEY, PROVIDE FOR A DIFFERENT ORDER OF PRIORITY.
    9    (C)  AN  INDIVIDUAL  WITH A HIGHER PRIORITY WHO IS WILLING TO ACT AS A
   10  HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE   MAY ASSUME THE AUTHORITY  TO  ACT  NOTWITH-
   11  STANDING  THE  FACT  THAT ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS PREVIOUSLY ASSUMED THAT
   12  AUTHORITY.
   13    5. AN INDIVIDUAL MAY DISQUALIFY ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS FROM ACTING AS
   14  HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE BY A HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY. UPON  THE
   15  PETITION  OF  ANY MEMBER OF THE CLASSES SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF
   16  THIS SECTION, THE COURT MAY DISQUALIFY FOR  CAUSE  SHOWN  AN  INDIVIDUAL
   17  OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS A HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE.
   18    6.   UNLESS  RELATED  BY  BLOOD,  MARRIAGE,  DOMESTIC  PARTNERSHIP  OR
   19  ADOPTION, A HEALTH  CARE  REPRESENTATIVE  MAY  NOT  BE  THE  PRINCIPAL'S
   20  ATTENDING  PHYSICIAN OR OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, NOR AN OWNER, OPERA-
   21  TOR OR EMPLOYEE OF  A  HEALTH  CARE  PROVIDER  IN  WHICH  THE  PRINCIPAL
   22  RECEIVES CARE.
   23    7.  (A) IF MORE THAN ONE MEMBER OF A CLASS ASSUMES AUTHORITY TO ACT AS
   24  A HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE, THE MEMBERS DO NOT AGREE ON A HEALTH  CARE
   25  DECISION  AND  THE  ATTENDING  PHYSICIAN  OR  HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IS SO
   26  INFORMED, THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER  MAY  RELY  ON
   27  THE  DECISION OF A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THAT CLASS WHO HAVE COMMU-
   28  NICATED THEIR VIEWS TO THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
   29    (B) IF THE MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF  HEALTH  CARE  REPRESENTATIVES  ARE
   30  EVENLY  DIVIDED  CONCERNING  THE  HEALTH CARE DECISION AND THE ATTENDING
   31  PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IS SO INFORMED, AN INDIVIDUAL HAVING A
   32  LOWER PRIORITY MAY NOT ACT AS A HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE. SO  LONG  AS
   33  THE CLASS REMAINS EVENLY DIVIDED, NO DECISION SHALL BE DEEMED MADE UNTIL
   34  SUCH  TIME  AS  THE  PARTIES RESOLVE THEIR DISAGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING
   35  SUCH DISAGREEMENT, NOTHING IN THIS SUBDIVISION  SHALL  BE  CONSTRUED  TO
   36  PRECLUDE  THE ADMINISTRATION OF HEALTH CARE TREATMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
   37  ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF MEDICAL PRACTICE.
   38    8. PROMPTLY UPON ASSUMING AUTHORITY TO ACT, A  HEALTH  CARE  REPRESEN-
   39  TATIVE  SHALL  COMMUNICATE THE ASSUMPTION OF AUTHORITY TO THE MEMBERS OF
   40  THE PRINCIPAL'S FAMILY SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION WHO
   41  CAN BE READILY CONTACTED.
   42    9. (A) A PRINCIPAL OF SOUND MIND MAY COUNTERMAND ANY HEALTH CARE DECI-
   43  SION MADE BY THE PRINCIPAL'S HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE AT ANY TIME  AND
   44  IN  ANY MANNER BY PERSONALLY INFORMING THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH
   45  CARE PROVIDER.
   46    (B) REGARDLESS OF THE PRINCIPAL'S MENTAL OR PHYSICAL CAPACITY, A PRIN-
   47  CIPAL MAY COUNTERMAND A HEALTH CARE DECISION  MADE  BY  THE  PRINCIPAL'S
   48  HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE THAT WOULD WITHHOLD OR WITHDRAW LIFE-SUSTAIN-
   49  ING  TREATMENT AT ANY TIME AND IN ANY MANNER BY PERSONALLY INFORMING THE
   50  ATTENDING PHYSICIAN.
   51    (C) THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SHALL MAKE REASON-
   52  ABLE EFFORTS TO PROMPTLY INFORM THE  HEALTH  CARE  REPRESENTATIVE  OF  A
   53  COUNTERMAND EXERCISED UNDER THIS SECTION.
   54    (D)  A  COUNTERMAND  EXERCISED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL NOT AFFECT THE
   55  AUTHORITY OF THE HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE TO MAKE  OTHER  HEALTH  CARE
   56  DECISIONS.
       S. 1926                             5
    1    10.  A HEALTH CARE DECISION MADE BY A HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE FOR A
    2  PRINCIPAL SHALL BE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT COURT APPROVAL.
    3    11.  AN  ATTENDING  PHYSICIAN  OR  HEALTH  CARE PROVIDER MAY REQUIRE A
    4  PERSON CLAIMING THE RIGHT TO ACT AS HEALTH  CARE  REPRESENTATIVE  FOR  A
    5  PRINCIPAL TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN DECLARATION MADE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY
    6  STATING  FACTS  AND CIRCUMSTANCES REASONABLY SUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH THE
    7  CLAIMED AUTHORITY.
    8    S 5. Subdivision 1 of section 2984 of the public health law, as  added
    9  by chapter 752 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
   10    1.  A health care provider who is provided with a health care proxy OR
   11  LIVING WILL shall arrange for [the  proxy  or]  a  copy  thereof  to  be
   12  inserted  in  the principal's medical record if the health care proxy OR
   13  LIVING WILL has not been included in such record.
   14    S 6. Section 2985 of the public health law, as added by chapter 752 of
   15  the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
   16    S 2985. Revocation. 1. Means of revoking proxy OR LIVING WILL.  (a)  A
   17  competent adult may revoke a health care proxy OR LIVING WILL by notify-
   18  ing  the  agent or a health care provider orally or in writing or by any
   19  other act evidencing a specific intent to revoke the proxy.
   20    (b) For the purposes of this section, every adult  shall  be  presumed
   21  competent unless determined otherwise pursuant to court order.
   22    (c)  A  health  care  proxy  OR LIVING WILL shall also be revoked upon
   23  execution by the principal of a subsequent health care proxy  OR  LIVING
   24  WILL.
   25    (d)  The creation by the principal of A LIVING WILL, written wishes or
   26  instructions about health care, or limitations upon the agent's authori-
   27  ty,  shall  not  revoke  a  health  care  proxy  unless   such   wishes,
   28  instructions  or  limitations  expressly provide otherwise. Such wishes,
   29  instructions or limitations shall constitute evidence of the principal's
   30  wishes for purposes of subdivision two  of  section  two  thousand  nine
   31  hundred eighty-two of this article.
   32    (e)  The  appointment  of  the principal's spouse as health care agent
   33  shall be revoked upon the divorce or legal separation of  the  principal
   34  and spouse, unless the principal specifies otherwise.
   35    2.  Duty  to record revocation.  (a) A physician who is informed of or
   36  provided with a revocation of a health care proxy OR LIVING  WILL  shall
   37  immediately  (i) record the revocation in the principal's medical record
   38  and (ii) notify the agent and the  medical  staff  responsible  for  the
   39  principal's care of the revocation.
   40    (b)  Any  member of the staff of a health care provider informed of or
   41  provided with a revocation of a health care proxy OR LIVING WILL  pursu-
   42  ant to this section shall immediately notify a physician of such revoca-
   43  tion.
   44    S 7. Section 2988 of the public health law, as added by chapter 752 of
   45  the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
   46    S  2988.  Requiring  or prohibiting execution of proxy OR LIVING WILL.
   47  No person may require or prohibit the execution of a health  care  proxy
   48  OR LIVING WILL by an individual as a condition for providing health care
   49  services or insurance to such individual.
   50    S  8. Subdivision 2 of section 2989 of the public health law, as added
   51  by chapter 752 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
   52    2. Nothing in this article creates, expands,  diminishes,  impairs  or
   53  supersedes  any authority that a principal may have under law to make or
   54  express decisions, wishes or instructions regarding health care, includ-
   55  ing decisions about life sustaining treatment, whether or not  expressed
   56  in a health care proxy OR LIVING WILL.
       S. 1926                             6
    1    S 9. Section 2990 of the public health law, as added by chapter 752 of
    2  the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
    3    S  2990.  Proxies  AND LIVING WILLS executed in other states. A health
    4  care proxy, LIVING WILL or similar instrument executed in another  state
    5  or jurisdiction in compliance with the law of that state or jurisdiction
    6  shall be considered validly executed for purposes of this article.
    7    S  10.  The  section  heading and subdivision 1 of section 2991 of the
    8  public health law, as added by chapter 752 of  the  laws  of  1990,  are
    9  amended to read as follows:
   10    Creation  and  use  of proxies OR WILLS in residential health care and
   11  mental hygiene facilities. 1. Residential  health  care  facilities  and
   12  mental hygiene facilities shall establish procedures:
   13    (a)  to  provide  information  to adult residents about their right to
   14  create a health care proxy AND/OR LIVING WILL under this article;
   15    (b) to educate adult residents about the authority delegated  under  a
   16  health care proxy, what a proxy AND LIVING WILL may include or omit, and
   17  how a proxy AND LIVING WILL is created and revoked;
   18    (c)  to  help  ensure  that  each  resident who creates a proxy AND/OR
   19  LIVING WILL while residing at the facility does so voluntarily.
   20    S 11. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 2992 of the public  health  law,
   21  as  added  by  chapter  752  of the laws of 1990, are amended to read as
   22  follows:
   23    1. determine the validity of the health care proxy OR LIVING WILL;
   24    3. override the agent's decision about health care  treatment  on  the
   25  grounds that: (a) the decision was made in bad faith [or]; (b) the deci-
   26  sion  is  not  in accordance with the standards set forth in subdivision
   27  one or two of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-two of this arti-
   28  cle; OR (C) THE DECISION CONFLICTS WITH A DULY EXECUTED LIVING WILL.
   29    S 12. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after  it  shall
   30  have become a law.
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