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, it provides legal protections for healthcare providers who act in accordance with valid patient-directed medical orders or orders not to resuscitate, ensuring they are not penalized for withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging procedures.

Moreover, the bill clarifies and expands the authority of emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and healthcare providers regarding the withholding or withdrawal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other life-prolonging procedures. It requires that orders not to resuscitate or patient-directed medical orders be documented on a form adopted by the Department of Health and signed by appropriate medical personnel, including advanced practice registered nurses. The bill also mandates the creation of a database by the Agency for Health Care Administration for storing patient-directed medical orders, which can be stored electronically. It outlines the responsibilities of professional guardians in making decisions about life-prolonging procedures for their wards, emphasizing the need for court approval in certain situations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 566 Filed: 765.102, 395.1041, 400.142, 400.487, 400.605, 400.6095, 400.611, 401.35, 429.255, 429.73, 752.001, 765.204, 765.205, 765.305