HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1399 FILED ON: 2/5/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Marc T. Lombardo
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act titled Justina's law-.
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PETITION OF:
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED:
Marc T. Lombardo 22nd Middlesex 2/5/2021
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 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1399 FILED ON: 2/5/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
[Pin Slip]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act titled Justina's law-.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 relative to indemnifying parents and legal guardians who have followed medical care
2 recommended by a licensed medical or mental health provider.
3 SECTION 1:
4 Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 119 be amended to add the following new section
5 51I:
6 51I: (a) A parent or legal guardian shall not be charged with abusing or neglecting a
7 child’s need for medical care if:
8 (i) the parent or legal guardian has sought medical care for the child from a licensed
9 medical or mental health provider;
10 (ii) the licensed medical or mental health provider has made a diagnosis;
11 (iii) the licensed medical or mental health provider has prescribed a lawful course of
12 treatment; and
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13 (iv) the parent or legal guardian is following or willing to follow the recommended
14 course of treatment.
15 (b) No mandatory reporter, as defined in Section 21 of this Chapter, shall file a report of
16 abuse or neglect under Section 51 of this Chapter based solely on a parent’s or legal guardian’s
17 decision to follow the recommended treatment of a licensed medical or mental health provider. A
18 parent or legal guardian has the right to follow the advice and treatment plan of a licensed
19 medical or mental health provider over a contrary opinion or recommended treatment plan of
20 another licensed medical or mental health provider when the decision does not involve
21 immediate life-threatening conditions. Even in the case of life-threatening conditions, the
22 decision of the parent or legal guardian to follow the advice or treatment plan of a licensed
23 medical or mental health provider shall not be overridden unless there is clear and convincing
24 evidence to the contrary.
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