A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning health.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how doctors should act in emergencies when parents are unavailable.

Law About Protecting Minors' Lives

This law requires doctors to get permission from both parents or legal guardians before stopping medical treatment for minors and prevents courts from ordering the removal of life support.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes a presumption that continuing life is in a minor's best interests.
• Requires health care providers to obtain consent from each parent or guardian before issuing a do not resuscitate order or withholding/withdrawing treatment for minors.
• Prohibits health care providers from interfering with the transfer of a minor patient at the request of parents or guardians.
• States that courts cannot withdraw life-sustaining treatment for minors.

Who It Names or Affects

• Doctors and health care providers
• Parents or legal guardians of minors

Terms To Know

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order

A medical order that says not to perform CPR if a person's heart stops.

Life Sustaining Treatment

Medical care given to keep someone alive, like machines or medicines.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what happens when parents cannot agree on treatment.
• Does not provide guidance for emergencies where parents are unavailable.
• The bill has passed the legislature but its final approval and implementation date are unknown.

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning health.
Presumption of continuation of life.

Current Bill Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning health.

Presumption of continuation of life.

Establishes a presumption that the continuation of life is in a minor's best interests. Requires a health care provider to obtain the consent of each parent or each legal guardian before issuing a do not resuscitate order or otherwise withholding or withdrawing treatment to allow the natural death of a minor. Prohibits a health care provider from interfering with the transfer of a minor patient at the request of a parent or guardian or otherwise preventing life saving measures before or during the transfer. States that a court does not have jurisdiction to withdraw life sustaining treatment for a minor.