Bill > H4597

This bill aims to establish a framework for surrogate decision-making in healthcare for individuals who lack the capacity to make their own medical decisions. The key provisions include: 1. Defining the process for designating a surrogate decision-maker, which prioritizes the person's spouse, adult children, parents, and other family members who are available and capable of making decisions in accordance with the person's wishes or best interests. 2. Outlining the authority and responsibilities of the surrogate decision-maker, including the right to access the person's medical information and make healthcare decisions on their behalf. 3. Providing legal protections for healthcare providers who rely on the surrogate decision-maker's instructions, as long as they act with due care and do not deviate from the standards set forth in the law. 4. Establishing a process for challenging the designation or decisions of the surrogate decision-maker through a special court proceeding. 5. Clarifying that the law does not apply in cases where the person has a valid and unrevoked healthcare proxy or Medical Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form, as those documents would take precedence. The overall goal of the bill is to ensure that individuals who lack decision-making capacity receive appropriate and informed healthcare decisions, while also protecting healthcare providers and surrogate decision-makers acting in good faith.