The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to enhance the framework for patient-directed medical orders, particularly in palliative care for progressive illnesses. It introduces a new definition for "patient-directed medical order," which is a collaborative medical order between a principal and a healthcare provider that is portable across healthcare settings. The bill revises legislative intent to include palliative care and establishes requirements for executing these orders, including the use of telehealth for discussing treatment preferences. It mandates that necessary healthcare services must be provided regardless of decisions to withhold or withdraw life-prolonging procedures.

Additionally, the bill provides legal protections for healthcare providers, allowing them to withhold or withdraw life-prolonging procedures without penalties if acting in accordance with a valid patient-directed medical order or an order not to resuscitate. It requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to create and maintain a database for storing these medical orders. The bill also clarifies the circumstances under which emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and facility staff can honor DNR orders and outlines the legal protections for healthcare providers who follow these directives. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 353 Filed: 765.102, 395.1041, 400.142, 400.487, 400.605, 400.6095, 400.611, 429.73, 752.001, 765.204, 765.205, 765.305