Bill > H1736

This bill updates the Massachusetts health care proxy law to expand the definition of who can be considered an "attending health care provider" and make related terminology changes. Specifically, the bill modifies Chapter 201D of the Massachusetts General Laws to broaden the term "attending physician" to "attending health care provider," which now explicitly includes not just physicians but also nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists. This change allows these additional healthcare professionals to have the same responsibilities and authorities in determining a patient's medical capacity and invoking a health care proxy that were previously reserved only for physicians. The bill makes these terminological updates across multiple sections of the law, ensuring consistency in language and expanding the range of medical professionals who can make critical decisions about a patient's healthcare when they may be unable to do so themselves. By including nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists, the bill recognizes the important role these healthcare professionals play in patient care and medical decision-making.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1736