§ 145B.13 — Reasonable Medical Practice Required
Plain-Language Summary
This section says that living wills created before this law was passed can still be valid. If an earlier living will meets the basic requirements of this chapter, it will be treated as though it was made under this law.
145B.13 REASONABLE MEDICAL PRACTICE REQUIRED.
In reliance on a patient’s living will, a decision to administer, withhold, or withdraw medical treatment after the patient has been diagnosed by the attending physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant to be in a terminal condition must always be based on reasonable medical practice, including:
(1) continuation of appropriate care to maintain the patient’s comfort, hygiene, and human dignity and to alleviate pain;
(2) oral administration of food or water to a patient who accepts it, except for clearly documented medical reasons; and
(3) in the case of a living will of a patient that the attending physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant knows is pregnant, the living will must not be given effect as long as it is possible that the fetus could develop to the point of live birth with continued application of life-sustaining treatment.
History:
1989 c 3 s 13; 1991 c 148 s 6; 2020 c 115 art 4 s 67; 2022 c 58 s 78
History: History: 1989 c 3 s 13; 1991 c 148 s 6; 2020 c 115 art 4 s 67; 2022 c 58 s 78