09 LC
21 0267S
House
Bill 69 (RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By:
Representatives Jerguson of the
22nd,
Cooper of the
41st,
Channell of the
116th,
Mitchell of the
88th,
and Kaiser of the
59th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 31-39-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to persons authorized to issue an order not to resuscitate, so as to clarify
provisions relating to a candidate for nonresuscitation and authorization for an
order not to resuscitate and to remove statutory ambiguity; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 31-39-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to persons
authorized to issue an order not to resuscitate, is amended by revising
subsection (a) as follows:
"(a)
Where consent by an authorized person has been given pursuant to subsection (b),
(c), or (d) of this Code section, the attending physician may issue an order
not to resuscitate a candidate for nonresuscitation pursuant to the requirements
of this chapter without the concurrence of another physician, notwithstanding
the provisions of paragraph (4) of Code Section 31-39-2. Where two or more
physicians concur pursuant to subsection (e) of this Code
section,
It shall be
lawful for the attending physician
to
may
issue an order not to resuscitate
a candidate
for nonresuscitation pursuant to the
requirements of this chapter. Any written order issued by the attending
physician using the term 'do not resuscitate,' 'DNR,' 'order not to
resuscitate,' 'no code,' or substantially similar language in the patient´s
chart shall constitute a legally sufficient order and shall authorize a
physician, health care professional, or emergency medical technician to withhold
or withdraw cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Such an order shall remain
effective, whether or not the patient is receiving treatment from or is a
resident of a health care facility, until the order is canceled as provided in
Code Section 31-39-5 or until consent for such order is revoked as provided in
Code Section 31-39-6, whichever occurs earlier. An attending physician who has
issued such an order and who transfers care of the patient to another physician
shall inform the receiving physician and the health care facility, if
applicable, of the order."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.