Bill > LD712

This bill requires the Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Advisory Council to develop recommendations that would require hospitals to defer to palliative care physicians and patients when making treatment decisions for patients receiving palliative care. Palliative care focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, and this bill aims to give more decision-making power to the specialized palliative care physician and the patient themselves. The advisory council must submit these recommendations as part of their annual report by January 1, 2026, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. The committee is then authorized to potentially introduce legislation based on these recommendations during the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature. By mandating these recommendations, the bill seeks to improve the treatment experience and autonomy of patients receiving palliative care by ensuring their specific medical needs and wishes are more directly considered in hospital treatment decisions.