Sec. 13. (a) The attending physician shall immediately certify in writing that a person is a qualified patient if the following conditions are met:

(1) The attending physician has diagnosed the patient as having a terminal condition.

(2) The patient has executed a living will declaration or a life prolonging procedures will declaration in accordance with this chapter and was of sound mind at the time of the execution.

(b) The attending physician shall include a copy of the certificate in the patient's medical records.

(c) It is lawful for the attending physician to withhold or withdraw life prolonging procedures from a qualified patient if that patient properly executed a living will declaration under this chapter.

(d) A health care provider or an employee under the direction of a health care provider who:

(1) in good faith; and

(2) in accordance with reasonable medical standards;

participates in the withholding or withdrawal of life prolonging procedures from a qualified patient who has executed a living will declaration in accordance with this chapter is not subject to criminal or civil liability and may not be found to have committed an act of unprofessional conduct.

(e) An attending physician who refuses to use, withhold, or withdraw life prolonging procedures from a qualified patient shall transfer the qualified patient to another physician who will honor the patient's living will declaration or life prolonging procedures will declaration unless:

(1) the physician has reason to believe the declaration was not validly executed or there is evidence that the patient no longer intends the declaration to be enforced; and

(2) the patient is presently unable to validate the declaration.

(f) If the attending physician, after reasonable investigation, finds no other physician willing to honor the patient's declaration, the attending physician may refuse to withhold or withdraw life prolonging procedures.

(g) If the attending physician does not transfer a patient for the reason set forth in subsection (e), the physician shall attempt to ascertain the patient's intention and attempt to determine the validity of the declaration by consulting with any of the following individuals who are reasonably available, willing, and competent to act:

(1) The judicially appointed guardian of the person of the patient if one has been appointed. This subdivision does not require the appointment of a guardian so that a treatment decision can be made under this section.

(2) The person or persons designated by the patient in writing to make the treatment decision.

(3) The patient's spouse.

(4) An adult child of the patient or, if the patient has more than one (1) adult child, by a majority of the children who are reasonably available for consultation.

(5) The parents of the patient.

(6) An adult sibling of the patient or, if the patient has more than one (1) adult sibling, by a majority of the siblings who are reasonably available for consultation.

(7) The patient's clergy or others with firsthand knowledge of the patient's intention.

The individuals described in subdivisions (1) through (7) shall act in the best interest of the patient and shall be guided by the patient's express or implied intentions, if known.

(h) The physician shall list the names of the individuals described in subsection (g) who were consulted and the information received in the patient's medical records.

(i) If the attending physician determines from the information received under subsection (g) that the qualified patient intended to execute a valid living will declaration, the physician may either:

(1) withhold or withdraw life prolonging procedures, with the concurrence of one (1) other physician, as documented in the patient's medical records; or

(2) request a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a guardian for the patient to make the consent decision on behalf of the patient.

[Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-8-11-14.]

As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.99-1994, SEC.3.