Bill > HB720

This bill, known as Simon's Law, adds a new section to the Health Care Facilities Act that establishes strict guidelines for do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders involving minors. The bill requires healthcare facilities, providers, and practitioners to obtain written consent from at least one parent or legal guardian before withholding life-sustaining measures or instituting a DNR order for a minor patient. If parents disagree, healthcare providers must continue life-sustaining measures. The bill mandates that healthcare providers make good faith efforts to contact parents within 48 hours to obtain consent, and must document any unsuccessful contact attempts. Parents can revoke previous consent at any time, and healthcare providers must maintain detailed medical records of all consent and revocation processes. The bill also protects parents' rights by ensuring they can seek other medical opinions, request transfers to other healthcare facilities, and access their child's medical records. Additionally, the bill prohibits courts from withdrawing life-sustaining measures over a parent's objection unless there is clear medical evidence of total circulatory or respiratory system destruction. Importantly, the bill does not require healthcare providers to implement resuscitative measures that are medically inappropriate or potentially harmful. The law defines a minor as an unemancipated individual under 18 who is not under juvenile court supervision, not in state military duty, and not in active United States military service.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=720