SB1509 is a bill that amends the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding a new section related to health professionals and informed consent for surgical procedures. The bill specifies that, except in emergencies, informed consent for a surgical procedure must include the dated signatures of the physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant performing the surgery, the patient or the patient's surrogate decision maker, and a witness as required by the health care facility's policies. The bill also outlines that if a patient or their surrogate is physically unable to sign the consent form, a witness must verify that the patient intended to consent to the procedure.

The bill defines a "surgical procedure" as the excision or incision in a patient's body for the correction of a deformity or defect, the repair of an injury, or the diagnosis, amelioration, or cure of a disease. The new requirements for informed consent aim to ensure that the consent is properly documented and that the patient or their surrogate has actively consented to the procedure.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 32-3228.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 32-3228.01