The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to enhance 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 who follow these orders, ensuring they are not subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability for withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging procedures.

House Bill 353 further clarifies and expands the circumstances under which emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and facility staff can withhold or withdraw life-prolonging procedures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It introduces legal language allowing these professionals to honor do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders executed under specific statutes, with documentation required on a form adopted by the Department of Health. The bill also mandates the creation of a database by the Agency for Health Care Administration to store patient-directed medical orders, ensuring electronic accessibility at the patient's discretion. Legal immunity is provided for healthcare providers who comply with these directives, and 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