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 discussions about 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 withhold or withdraw life-prolonging procedures in accordance with valid patient-directed medical orders or orders not to resuscitate, shielding them from penalties. It requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to create a database for storing these medical orders and makes conforming amendments to existing law for consistency with the new provisions. The bill also clarifies the authority of emergency medical technicians and paramedics regarding CPR and life-prolonging procedures, ensuring that patient autonomy and legal protections are upheld while streamlining the process for healthcare providers. 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