2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 40 - Public Health and Safety
RS 40:1299.58.8 - Immunity from liability

§1299.58.8. Immunity from liability

A.(1) Any health care facility, physician, or other person acting under the direction of a physician shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability or be deemed to have engaged in unprofessional conduct as a result of the withholding or the withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures from a qualified patient who has made a declaration or is wearing a do-not-resuscitate identification bracelet in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

(2) Any person, health care facility, physician, or other person acting under the direction of a physician who authorizes the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures in accordance with a qualified patient's declaration or do-not-resuscitate identification bracelet, or as otherwise provided in this Part shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability for such action.

B. In instances where a patient diagnosed as having a terminal and irreversible condition or his representative utilized means other than those in accordance with the provisions of this Part to document or manifest the patient's intention and desire that medical treatment or life-sustaining procedures be withheld or withdrawn, any health care facility, physician, or other person acting under the direction of a physician shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability or be deemed to have engaged in unprofessional conduct as a result of the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures when the health care facility, physician, or other person acting under the direction of a physician has acted in good faith reliance on the patient's or his representative's manifestations that medical treatment or life-sustaining procedures be withheld or withdrawn and the continued utilization of life-sustaining procedures would, within reasonable medical judgment, serve only to prolong the dying process.

C.(1) Inasmuch as the provisions of this Part are declared by the legislature to provide an alternative nonexclusive means by which life-sustaining procedures may be withheld or withdrawn, the provisions of this Section shall apply to any case in which life-sustaining procedures are withheld or withdrawn unless it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the person authorizing or effectuating the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures did not, in good faith, comply with the provisions of this Part or did not act in good faith compliance with the intention of the terminal and irreversible patient that medical treatment or life-sustaining procedures be withheld or withdrawn.

(2) A declaration made in accordance with this Part shall be presumed to have been made voluntarily.

D.(1) A licensed emergency medical services practitioner shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability for withholding life-sustaining procedures from a qualified patient who is wearing a do-not-resuscitate identification bracelet.

(2) A licensed emergency medical services practitioner shall not be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability for administering life-sustaining procedures to a qualified patient who is not wearing the do-not-resuscitate identification bracelet.

Acts 1984, No. 382, §1; Acts 1985, No. 187, §1, eff. July 6, 1985; Acts 1999, No. 641, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2012, No. 789, §2, eff. June 13, 2012.