This bill proposes the addition of a new article to the Code of West Virginia, titled the Medical Informed Consent Act, which mandates that all medical treatment providers must provide oral information to patients regarding all possible treatment plans, including potential risks, complications, and side effects. The bill defines key terms such as "informed consent," which emphasizes the patient's right to be fully informed about medical interventions and to make voluntary decisions regarding their treatment. It also outlines the responsibilities of healthcare providers to obtain patient signatures confirming that they have received this information.

Furthermore, the bill establishes patient rights and outlines penalties for non-compliance. It requires the Department of Health to publish a summary of patient rights and mandates that healthcare providers inform patients about how to file complaints regarding non-compliance. The bill stipulates that healthcare practitioners may face administrative fines for failing to provide necessary information, with specific penalties for unintentional and intentional violations. The fines range from corrective action for first-time unintentional violations to up to $500 for intentional violations, with each violation treated separately.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-3E-1, 16-3E-2, 16-3E-3, 16-3E-4