The proposed bill seeks to amend the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding a new chapter, Chapter 9, which focuses on patients' rights in relation to health care services. This new chapter will establish a set of principles that health professionals must adhere to when providing care, emphasizing the importance of acting in the patient's best interest, doing no harm, and ensuring informed consent for medical decisions and procedures, except in emergencies.
In addition to the new provisions, the bill clarifies definitions within the context of patients' rights, specifying that "health professional" retains its existing definition from section 32-3201, while introducing a new definition for "patient" as a human being. Overall, the bill aims to enhance patient protections and establish clear expectations for health care providers in Arizona.