The bill amends the "Estates and Protected Individuals Code" to enhance the provisions regarding patient advocate designations. It allows for a patient advocate designation to include specific statements about a patient's desires concerning care, custody, medical treatment, and mental health treatment, particularly in relation to life-sustaining treatment if the patient is pregnant. The bill clarifies that a patient's pregnancy status does not limit their rights regarding these decisions. Additionally, it introduces the ability for patients to designate a successor patient advocate and outlines the necessary steps for implementing such designations, including the requirement for the proposed advocate to sign an acceptance.

Significant changes include the removal of language that previously prohibited a patient advocate from making medical treatment decisions that could result in the death of a pregnant patient. Instead, the bill now allows a patient advocate to direct which life-sustaining treatments a pregnant patient would desire or not desire. The bill also emphasizes that a patient advocate must act in accordance with the patient's known desires and best interests, and it establishes the conditions under which a patient advocate can make decisions regarding withholding or withdrawing treatment. Overall, the amendments aim to provide clearer guidelines and protections for patients and their advocates in making critical health care decisions.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 700.5507, 700.5509
As Passed by the Senate: 700.5507, 700.5509