2020 New Jersey Revised Statutes
Title 26 - Health and Vital Statistics
Section 26:16-10 - Oral, written request by patient, physician's actions.

26:16-10 Oral, written request by patient, physician's actions.

10. a. In order to receive a prescription for medication that a qualified terminally ill patient may choose to self-administer pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), the patient shall make two oral requests and one written request for the medication to the patient's attending physician, subject to the following requirements:

(1) at least 15 days shall elapse between the initial oral request and the second oral request;

(2) at the time the patient makes a second oral request, the attending physician shall offer the patient an opportunity to rescind the request;

(3) the patient may submit the written request to the attending physician when the patient makes the initial oral request or at any time thereafter;

(4) the written request shall meet the requirements of section 5 of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-5);

(5) at least 15 days shall elapse between the patient's initial oral request and the writing of a prescription pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.); and

(6) at least 48 hours shall elapse between the attending physician's receipt of the patient's written request and the writing of a prescription pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.).

b. A qualified terminally ill patient may rescind the request at any time and in any manner without regard to the patient's mental state.

c. At the time the patient makes an initial oral request for medication that the patient may choose to self-administer pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.), the patient's attending physician shall recommend to the patient that the patient participate in a consultation concerning concurrent or additional treatment opportunities, palliative care, comfort care, hospice care, and pain control options, and provide the patient with a referral to a health care professional qualified to discuss these options with the patient. If the patient chooses to participate in such consultation, the consultation shall include, to the extent the patient consents to share such information, consideration of: the patient's terminal illness; the patient's prognosis; current and past courses of treatment prescribed for the patient in connection with the patient's terminal illness, including the results of any such treatment; and any palliative care, comfort care, hospice care, and pain control treatment the patient is currently receiving or has received in the past.

d. The attending physician shall ensure that the following items are included in the patient's medical record:

(1) the determination that the patient is a qualified terminally ill patient and the basis for that determination;

(2) all oral and written requests by the patient to the attending physician for medication that the patient may choose to self-administer pursuant to P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.);

(3) the attending physician's diagnosis and prognosis, and determination that the patient is capable, is acting voluntarily, and has made an informed decision;

(4) the consulting physician's diagnosis and prognosis, and verification that the patient is capable, is acting voluntarily, and has made an informed decision;

(5) if applicable, a report of the determination made by a mental health care professional as to whether the patient is capable pursuant to section 8 of P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-8);

(6) the attending physician's recommendation that the patient participate in a consultation concerning concurrent or additional treatment opportunities, palliative care, comfort care, hospice care, and pain control options; the referral provided to the patient with a referral to a health care professional qualified to discuss these options with the patient; an indication as to whether the patient participated in the consultation; and an indication as to whether the patient is currently receiving palliative care, comfort care, hospice care, or pain control treatments;

(7) the attending physician's offer to the patient to rescind the patient's request at the time of the patient's second oral request; and

(8) a note by the attending physician indicating that all requirements under P.L.2019, c.59 (C.26:16-1 et al.) have been met and indicating the steps taken to carry out the patient's request for medication, including a notation of the medication prescribed.

L.2019, c.59, s.10.