Physician not subject to liability or discipline – Liability for falsification of form – Temporary court orders.

Checkout our iOS App for a better way to browser and research.

A. A physician or other health care provider acting in good faith and in accordance with reasonable medical standards applicable to the physician or other health care provider is not subject to civil or criminal liability or to discipline for unprofessional conduct for:

1. Executing an Oklahoma standardized format physician orders for life-sustaining treatment form in compliance with a health care decision of a person apparently having authority to make a health care decision for a patient, including a decision to provide, withhold or withdraw health care;

2. Declining to execute an Oklahoma standardized format physician orders for life-sustaining treatment form in compliance with a health care decision of a person based on a reasonable belief that the person then lacked authority; or

3. Complying with an apparently valid Oklahoma standardized format physician orders for life-sustaining treatment form on the assumption that the order was valid when made and has not been revoked or terminated.

B. A person who intentionally falsifies, forges, conceals, defaces or obliterates an individual's physician orders for life-sustaining treatment form without the individual's consent, or who coerces or fraudulently induces an individual to give, revoke or not to give a physician orders for life-sustaining treatment form, is subject to liability to that individual for damages of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) or actual damages resulting from the action, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney fees.

C. On petition of a health care provider or facility involved with the patient's care, the patient or the patient's custodial parent or guardian, attorney-in-fact, guardian or health care proxy, or other person who has authority to make health care decisions for the patient under common law, any court of competent jurisdiction may enjoin or direct a health care decision related to a physician orders for life-sustaining treatment form or order other appropriate equitable relief. The court shall issue such temporary orders as necessary to preserve the life of the patient pending a final judgment in such litigation, including any appeals.

Added by Laws 2016, c. 355, § 5.


Download our app to see the most-to-date content.