The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to establish the concept of "patient-directed medical orders," which are created collaboratively by patients and healthcare providers to specify treatment preferences in advance. This legal framework ensures that patients' wishes are respected across different healthcare settings and outlines the requirements for valid orders, including the necessity for signatures from both the patient and their healthcare provider. The bill also allows for telehealth discussions regarding these orders and mandates that necessary healthcare services be provided regardless of the patient's decisions about life-prolonging procedures.

Additionally, the legislation provides legal protections for healthcare providers who follow patient-directed medical orders, shielding them from criminal prosecution or civil liability when withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging procedures as specified in these orders. It requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to create a database for storing these orders and clarifies the roles of emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and facility staff in relation to valid do-not-resuscitate orders. The bill emphasizes the importance of respecting patients' rights in end-of-life care while streamlining the process for healthcare providers, with an effective date set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 312 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