Bill > HB3162

This bill: Amends the Texas Health and Safety Code to address advance directives, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, and health care treatment decisions made by or on behalf of certain patients who are determined to be incompetent or otherwise mentally or physically incapable of communication. The key provisions include: 1) Limiting liability for physicians and healthcare professionals who participate in certain medical procedures for patients when their advance directive or treatment decision is not being followed. 2) Modifying the procedure for reviewing a physician's refusal to honor a patient's advance directive or treatment decision, including requirements for the review process and the patient's rights during the review. 3) Prohibiting ethics or medical committees from considering a patient's disability that existed before the current admission, unless the disability is relevant in determining if the medical intervention is appropriate. 4) Requiring healthcare facilities to report data on the processes related to reviewing a physician's refusal to honor a patient's advance directive or treatment decision. 5) Clarifying requirements and procedures for DNR orders, including when a physician must revoke a DNR order. The bill applies to healthcare and treatment decisions made on or after the effective date of September 1, 2023.