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, and it authorizes healthcare professionals to withhold or withdraw such procedures under specific circumstances without facing penalties.

Additionally, 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 sets new requirements for the validity of patient-directed medical orders, including necessary signatures from healthcare professionals and the patient or their surrogate if incapacitated. The bill provides legal protections for healthcare providers from criminal prosecution or civil liability when acting in accordance with these orders and mandates the creation of a database for storing them. Overall, the changes aim to ensure that patients' end-of-life care wishes are respected while providing clear guidelines for healthcare professionals, with the act 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