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Duties of attending physician and health care provider - 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5462

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     § 5462.  Duties of attending physician and health care provider.
        (a)  Duty to certify end-stage medical condition.--Promptly
     after a determination that a principal has an end-stage medical
     condition or is permanently unconscious, the attending physician
     shall certify in writing that the principal has an end-stage
     medical condition or is permanently unconscious.
        (b)  Communication of health care decision.--Whenever
     possible before implementing a health care decision made by a
     health care representative or health care agent, an attending
     physician or health care provider shall promptly communicate to
     the principal the decision and the identity of the person making
     the decision.
        (c)  Compliance with decisions of health care agent and
     health care representative.--
            (1)  Health care necessary to preserve life shall be
        provided to an individual who has neither an end-stage
        medical condition nor is permanently unconscious, except if
        the individual is competent and objects to such care or a
        health care agent objects on behalf of the principal if
        authorized to do so by the health care power of attorney or
        living will. In every other case, subject to any limitation
        specified in the health care power of attorney, an attending
        physician or health care provider shall comply with a health
        care decision made by a health care agent or health care
        representative to the same extent as if the decision had been
        made by the principal.
            (2)  In all circumstances this subsection shall be
        construed so as to be consistent with the Americans with
        Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336, 104 Stat. 327).
        (d)  Medical record.--
            (1)  An attending physician or health care provider who
        is given a health care power of attorney shall arrange for
        the health care power of attorney or a copy to be placed in
        the medical record of the principal.
            (2)  An attending physician or health care provider to
        whom an amendment or revocation of a health care power of
        attorney is communicated shall promptly enter the information
        in the medical record of the principal and maintain a copy if
        one is furnished.
        (e)  Record of determination.--An attending physician who
     determines that a principal is incompetent or has become
     competent or makes a determination that affects the authority of
     a health care agent shall enter the determination in the medical
     record of the principal and, if possible, promptly inform the
     principal and any health care agent of the determination.

        Cross References.  Section 5462 is referred to in sections
     5431, 5456 of this title.

Last modified: November 27, 2007