§ 2994-g. Health care decisions for adult patients without surrogates. 1. Identifying adult patients without surrogates. Within a reasonable time after admission as an inpatient to the hospital of each adult patient, the hospital shall make reasonable efforts to determine if the patient has appointed a health care agent or has a guardian, or if at least one individual is available to serve as the patient's surrogate in the event the patient lacks or loses decision-making capacity. With respect to a patient who lacks capacity, if no such health care agent, guardian or potential surrogate is identified, the hospital shall identify, to the extent reasonably possible, the patient's wishes and preferences, including the patient's religious and moral beliefs, about pending health care decisions, and shall record its findings in the patient's medical record. 2. Decision-making standards and procedures. (a) The procedures specified in this and the following subdivisions of this section apply to health care decisions for adult patients who would qualify for surrogate decision-making under this article but for whom no surrogate is reasonably available, willing or competent to act. (b) Any health care decision made pursuant to this section shall be made in accordance with the standards set forth in subdivision four of section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-d of this article and shall not be based on the financial interests of the hospital or any other health care provider. The specific procedures to be followed depend on whether the decision involves routine medical treatment, major medical treatment, or the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, and the location where the treatment is provided. 3. Routine medical treatment. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "routine medical treatment" means any treatment, service, or procedure to diagnose or treat an individual's physical or mental condition, such as the administration of medication, the extraction of bodily fluids for analysis, or dental care performed with a local anesthetic, for which health care providers ordinarily do not seek specific consent from the patient or authorized representative. It shall not include the long-term provision of treatment such as ventilator support or a nasogastric tube but shall include such treatment when provided as part of post-operative care or in response to an acute illness and recovery is reasonably expected within one month or less. (b) An attending physician shall be authorized to decide about routine medical treatment for an adult patient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article. Nothing in this subdivision shall require health care providers to obtain specific consent for treatment where specific consent is not otherwise required by law. 4. Major medical treatment. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "major medical treatment" means any treatment, service or procedure to diagnose or treat an individual's physical or mental condition: (i) where general anesthetic is used; or (ii) which involves any significant risk; or (iii) which involves any significant invasion of bodily integrity requiring an incision, producing substantial pain, discomfort, debilitation or having a significant recovery period; or (iv) which involves the use of physical restraints, as specified in regulations promulgated by the commissioner, except in an emergency; or (v) which involves the use of psychoactive medications, except when provided as part of post-operative care or in response to an acute illness and treatment is reasonably expected to be administered over a period of forty-eight hours or less, or when provided in an emergency. (b) A decision to provide major medical treatment, made in accordance with the following requirements, shall be authorized for an adultpatient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article. (i) An attending physician shall make a recommendation in consultation with hospital staff directly responsible for the patient's care. (ii) In a general hospital, at least one other physician designated by the hospital must independently determine that he or she concurs that the recommendation is appropriate. (iii) In a residential health care facility the medical director of the facility, or a physician designated by the medical director, must independently determine that he or she concurs that the recommendation is appropriate; provided that if the medical director is the patient's attending physician, a different physician designated by the residential health care facility must make this independent determination. Any health or social services practitioner employed by or otherwise formally affiliated with the facility may provide a second opinion for decisions about physical restraints made pursuant to this subdivision. 5. Decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. (a) A court of competent jurisdiction may make a decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment for an adult patient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article if the court finds that the decision accords with standards for decisions for adults set forth in subdivisions four and five of section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-d of this article. (b) If the attending physician, with independent concurrence of a second physician designated by the hospital, determines to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that: (i) life-sustaining treatment offers the patient no medical benefit because the patient will die imminently, even if the treatment is provided; and (ii) the provision of life-sustaining treatment would violate accepted medical standards, then such treatment may be withdrawn or withheld from an adult patient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article, without judicial approval. This paragraph shall not apply to any treatment necessary to alleviate pain or discomfort. 6. Physician objection. If a physician consulted for a concurring opinion objects to an attending physician's recommendation or determination made pursuant to this section, or a member of the hospital staff directly responsible for the patient's care objects to an attending physician's recommendation about major medical treatment or treatment without medical benefit, the matter shall be referred to the ethics review committee if it cannot be otherwise resolved.
§ 2994-g. Health care decisions for adult patients without surrogates. 1. Identifying adult patients without surrogates. Within a reasonable time after admission as an inpatient to the hospital of each adult patient, the hospital shall make reasonable efforts to determine if the patient has appointed a health care agent or has a guardian, or if at least one individual is available to serve as the patient's surrogate in the event the patient lacks or loses decision-making capacity. With respect to a patient who lacks capacity, if no such health care agent, guardian or potential surrogate is identified, the hospital shall identify, to the extent reasonably possible, the patient's wishes and preferences, including the patient's religious and moral beliefs, about pending health care decisions, and shall record its findings in the patient's medical record. 2. Decision-making standards and procedures. (a) The procedures specified in this and the following subdivisions of this section apply to health care decisions for adult patients who would qualify for surrogate decision-making under this article but for whom no surrogate is reasonably available, willing or competent to act. (b) Any health care decision made pursuant to this section shall be made in accordance with the standards set forth in subdivision four of section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-d of this article and shall not be based on the financial interests of the hospital or any other health care provider. The specific procedures to be followed depend on whether the decision involves routine medical treatment, major medical treatment, or the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, and the location where the treatment is provided. 3. Routine medical treatment. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "routine medical treatment" means any treatment, service, or procedure to diagnose or treat an individual's physical or mental condition, such as the administration of medication, the extraction of bodily fluids for analysis, or dental care performed with a local anesthetic, for which health care providers ordinarily do not seek specific consent from the patient or authorized representative. It shall not include the long-term provision of treatment such as ventilator support or a nasogastric tube but shall include such treatment when provided as part of post-operative care or in response to an acute illness and recovery is reasonably expected within one month or less. (b) An attending physician shall be authorized to decide about routine medical treatment for an adult patient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article. Nothing in this subdivision shall require health care providers to obtain specific consent for treatment where specific consent is not otherwise required by law. 4. Major medical treatment. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "major medical treatment" means any treatment, service or procedure to diagnose or treat an individual's physical or mental condition: (i) where general anesthetic is used; or (ii) which involves any significant risk; or (iii) which involves any significant invasion of bodily integrity requiring an incision, producing substantial pain, discomfort, debilitation or having a significant recovery period; or (iv) which involves the use of physical restraints, as specified in regulations promulgated by the commissioner, except in an emergency; or (v) which involves the use of psychoactive medications, except when provided as part of post-operative care or in response to an acute illness and treatment is reasonably expected to be administered over a period of forty-eight hours or less, or when provided in an emergency. (b) A decision to provide major medical treatment, made in accordance with the following requirements, shall be authorized for an adultpatient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article. (i) An attending physician shall make a recommendation in consultation with hospital staff directly responsible for the patient's care. (ii) In a general hospital, at least one other physician designated by the hospital must independently determine that he or she concurs that the recommendation is appropriate. (iii) In a residential health care facility the medical director of the facility, or a physician designated by the medical director, must independently determine that he or she concurs that the recommendation is appropriate; provided that if the medical director is the patient's attending physician, a different physician designated by the residential health care facility must make this independent determination. Any health or social services practitioner employed by or otherwise formally affiliated with the facility may provide a second opinion for decisions about physical restraints made pursuant to this subdivision. 5. Decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. (a) A court of competent jurisdiction may make a decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment for an adult patient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article if the court finds that the decision accords with standards for decisions for adults set forth in subdivisions four and five of section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-d of this article. (b) If the attending physician, with independent concurrence of a second physician designated by the hospital, determines to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that: (i) life-sustaining treatment offers the patient no medical benefit because the patient will die imminently, even if the treatment is provided; and (ii) the provision of life-sustaining treatment would violate accepted medical standards, then such treatment may be withdrawn or withheld from an adult patient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article, without judicial approval. This paragraph shall not apply to any treatment necessary to alleviate pain or discomfort. 6. Physician objection. If a physician consulted for a concurring opinion objects to an attending physician's recommendation or determination made pursuant to this section, or a member of the hospital staff directly responsible for the patient's care objects to an attending physician's recommendation about major medical treatment or treatment without medical benefit, the matter shall be referred to the ethics review committee if it cannot be otherwise resolved.
§ 2994-g. Health care decisions for adult patients without surrogates. 1. Identifying adult patients without surrogates. Within a reasonable time after admission as an inpatient to the hospital of each adult patient, the hospital shall make reasonable efforts to determine if the patient has appointed a health care agent or has a guardian, or if at least one individual is available to serve as the patient's surrogate in the event the patient lacks or loses decision-making capacity. With respect to a patient who lacks capacity, if no such health care agent, guardian or potential surrogate is identified, the hospital shall identify, to the extent reasonably possible, the patient's wishes and preferences, including the patient's religious and moral beliefs, about pending health care decisions, and shall record its findings in the patient's medical record. 2. Decision-making standards and procedures. (a) The procedures specified in this and the following subdivisions of this section apply to health care decisions for adult patients who would qualify for surrogate decision-making under this article but for whom no surrogate is reasonably available, willing or competent to act. (b) Any health care decision made pursuant to this section shall be made in accordance with the standards set forth in subdivision four of section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-d of this article and shall not be based on the financial interests of the hospital or any other health care provider. The specific procedures to be followed depend on whether the decision involves routine medical treatment, major medical treatment, or the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, and the location where the treatment is provided. 3. Routine medical treatment. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "routine medical treatment" means any treatment, service, or procedure to diagnose or treat an individual's physical or mental condition, such as the administration of medication, the extraction of bodily fluids for analysis, or dental care performed with a local anesthetic, for which health care providers ordinarily do not seek specific consent from the patient or authorized representative. It shall not include the long-term provision of treatment such as ventilator support or a nasogastric tube but shall include such treatment when provided as part of post-operative care or in response to an acute illness and recovery is reasonably expected within one month or less. (b) An attending physician shall be authorized to decide about routine medical treatment for an adult patient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article. Nothing in this subdivision shall require health care providers to obtain specific consent for treatment where specific consent is not otherwise required by law. 4. Major medical treatment. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, "major medical treatment" means any treatment, service or procedure to diagnose or treat an individual's physical or mental condition: (i) where general anesthetic is used; or (ii) which involves any significant risk; or (iii) which involves any significant invasion of bodily integrity requiring an incision, producing substantial pain, discomfort, debilitation or having a significant recovery period; or (iv) which involves the use of physical restraints, as specified in regulations promulgated by the commissioner, except in an emergency; or (v) which involves the use of psychoactive medications, except when provided as part of post-operative care or in response to an acute illness and treatment is reasonably expected to be administered over a period of forty-eight hours or less, or when provided in an emergency. (b) A decision to provide major medical treatment, made in accordance with the following requirements, shall be authorized for an adultpatient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article. (i) An attending physician shall make a recommendation in consultation with hospital staff directly responsible for the patient's care. (ii) In a general hospital, at least one other physician designated by the hospital must independently determine that he or she concurs that the recommendation is appropriate. (iii) In a residential health care facility the medical director of the facility, or a physician designated by the medical director, must independently determine that he or she concurs that the recommendation is appropriate; provided that if the medical director is the patient's attending physician, a different physician designated by the residential health care facility must make this independent determination. Any health or social services practitioner employed by or otherwise formally affiliated with the facility may provide a second opinion for decisions about physical restraints made pursuant to this subdivision. 5. Decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. (a) A court of competent jurisdiction may make a decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment for an adult patient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article if the court finds that the decision accords with standards for decisions for adults set forth in subdivisions four and five of section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-d of this article. (b) If the attending physician, with independent concurrence of a second physician designated by the hospital, determines to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that: (i) life-sustaining treatment offers the patient no medical benefit because the patient will die imminently, even if the treatment is provided; and (ii) the provision of life-sustaining treatment would violate accepted medical standards, then such treatment may be withdrawn or withheld from an adult patient who has been determined to lack decision-making capacity pursuant to section twenty-nine hundred ninety-four-c of this article, without judicial approval. This paragraph shall not apply to any treatment necessary to alleviate pain or discomfort. 6. Physician objection. If a physician consulted for a concurring opinion objects to an attending physician's recommendation or determination made pursuant to this section, or a member of the hospital staff directly responsible for the patient's care objects to an attending physician's recommendation about major medical treatment or treatment without medical benefit, the matter shall be referred to the ethics review committee if it cannot be otherwise resolved.
