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Legislative findings and intent - 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5482

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     § 5482.  Legislative findings and intent.
        The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
            (1)  Although cardiopulmonary resuscitation has saved the
        lives of individuals about to experience sudden, unexpected
        death, present medical data indicates that cardiopulmonary
        resuscitation rarely leads to prolonged survival in
        individuals with terminal illnesses in whom death is
        expected.
            (2)  In many circumstances, the performance of
        cardiopulmonary resuscitation may inflict unwanted and
        unnecessary pain and suffering.
            (3)  Existing emergency medical services protocols may
        require emergency medical services personnel to proceed to
        cardiopulmonary resuscitation when an individual is found in
        a cardiac or respiratory arrest even if the individual has
        completed an advance health care directive indicating that
        the individual does not wish to receive cardiopulmonary
        resuscitation.
            (4)  The administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
        by emergency medical services personnel to an individual with
        an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order offends the
        dignity of the individual and conflicts with standards of
        accepted medical practice.
            (5)  This subchapter provides clear direction to
        emergency medical services personnel and other health care
        providers in regard to the performance of cardiopulmonary
        resuscitation.

Last modified: November 27, 2007