(a) Death resulting from the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment pursuant to a declaration and in accordance with this subchapter does not constitute, for any purpose, a suicide or homicide.
(b) The making of a declaration pursuant to ยง 20-17-202 does not affect in any manner the sale, procurement, or issuance of any policy of life insurance or annuity, nor does it affect, impair, or modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance or annuity. A policy of life insurance or annuity is not legally impaired or invalidated in any manner by the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from an insured qualified patient, notwithstanding any term to the contrary.
(c) A person may not prohibit or require the execution of a declaration as a condition for being insured for, or receiving, health care services.
(d) This subchapter creates no presumption concerning the intention of an individual who has revoked or has not executed a declaration with respect to the use, withholding, or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in the event of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.
(e) This subchapter does not affect the right of a patient to make decisions regarding use of life-sustaining treatment, so long as the patient is able to do so, or impair or supersede any right or responsibility that a person has to effect the withholding or withdrawal of medical care.
(f) This subchapter does not require any physician or other health care provider to take any action contrary to reasonable medical standards.
(g) This subchapter does not condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia.
Section: Previous 20-17-203 20-17-204 20-17-205 20-17-206 20-17-207 20-17-208 20-17-209 20-17-210 20-17-211 20-17-212 20-17-213 20-17-214 20-17-215 20-17-216 20-17-217 NextLast modified: November 15, 2016