2018 Mississippi Code
Title 41 - Public Health
Chapter 41 - Surgical or Medical Procedures; Consents
Mississippi Physician Order for Sustaining Treatment
§ 41-41-303. Immunity, liability, penalties and equitable relief.
(1) A physician or health-care provider acting in good faith and in accordance with generally accepted health-care standards applicable to the physician or health-care provider is not subject to civil or criminal liability or to discipline for unprofessional conduct for:
(a) Executing a physician order for sustaining treatment in compliance with a health-care decision of a person apparently having authority to make a health-care decision for a patient, including a decision to provide, withhold or withdraw health care;
(b) Declining to execute a physician order for sustaining treatment in compliance with a health-care decision of a person based on a belief that the person then lacked authority; or
(c) Complying with an apparently valid physician order for sustaining treatment on the assumption that the order was valid when made and has not been revoked or terminated.
(2) A health-care provider or institution that intentionally violates Section 41-41-302 is subject to liability to the aggrieved individual for damages of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or actual damages resulting from the violation, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney’s fees.
(3) A person who intentionally falsifies, forges, conceals, defaces, or obliterates an individual’s physician order for sustaining treatment or a revocation of a physician order for sustaining treatment without the individual’s consent, or who coerces or fraudulently induces an individual to give, revoke, or not to give a physician order for sustaining treatment, is subject to liability to that individual for damages of Twenty-five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) or actual damages resulting from the action, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney’s fees.
(4) On petition of a patient, the patient’s agent, guardian, or surrogate, a health-care provider or institution involved with the patient’s care, or surrogate for the patient as described in Section 41-41-211(2) or (3), any court of competent jurisdiction may enjoin or direct a health-care decision related to a physician order for scope of treatment, or order other equitable relief. A proceeding under this section shall be governed by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure.
