2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 40 — Public health and safety
RS 40:1299.64.1 — Legislative purpose, findings, and intent
PART XXIV-C. LOUISIANA PHYSICIAN ORDER FOR SCOPE OF TREATMENT
§1299.64.1. Legislative purpose, findings, and intent
A. The legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) It is important for people to make health care decisions before a medical crisis presents itself.
(2) Health care planning is a process, rather than a single decision, that helps individuals to consider the kind of care they would want if they become seriously ill or incapacitated, and encourages them to talk to their family members or legal representative about such issues.
(3) The Louisiana Physician Order for Scope of Treatment "LaPOST" form documents the wishes of a qualified patient in a physician order.
(4) The hallmarks of the LaPOST form are the following:
(a) Immediately actionable, signed physician orders on a standardized form.
(b) Orders that address a range of life-sustaining interventions as well as the patient's preferred treatment for each intervention.
(c) A brightly colored, clearly identifiable form.
(d) A form that is recognized, adopted, and honored across treatment settings.
B.(1) The legislature intends that the provisions of this Part are permissive and voluntary. The legislature further intends that the completion of the Louisiana Physician Order for Scope of Treatment form merely illustrates a means of documenting a decision of a patient relative to withholding or withdrawal of medical treatment or life-sustaining procedures.
(2) It is the intent of the legislature that nothing in this Part shall be construed to require the completion of a Louisiana Physician Order for Scope of Treatment form pursuant to this Part.
(3) It is the intent of the legislature that nothing in this Part shall be construed to be the exclusive means by which life-sustaining procedures may be withheld or withdrawn, nor shall this Part be construed to require the application of medically inappropriate treatment or life-sustaining procedures to any patient.
Acts 2010, No. 954, §1.
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