Bill > S0312

This bill creates a new type of medical directive called a "patient-directed medical order" that allows individuals to work with healthcare providers to create a portable, electronic medical order specifying their preferences for life-prolonging procedures. The bill defines this order as a medical document created collaboratively between a patient and a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, which can be stored in an optional online registry. The order must clearly express the patient's treatment preferences, which can range from receiving all available treatments to focusing only on comfort measures. The bill requires that the order be signed by both the patient and a healthcare provider, with provisions for electronic signatures and alternative signing methods if the patient is incapacitated or physically unable to sign. Healthcare providers across various settings (hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, etc.) would be protected from criminal or civil liability when following these orders, and the bill emphasizes that necessary health care services must still be provided for the patient's comfort and pain management, regardless of decisions about life-prolonging procedures. Additionally, the bill requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to create an optional electronic database for storing these patient-directed medical orders, providing a centralized and accessible method for patients to document their end-of-life care preferences.

Budget and Finance

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/312