HB 401 -- Emergency Services

Sponsor:  Bruns

This bill creates an out-of-hospital do-not-attempt-to-
resuscitate order (OHDNARO), a copy of which must be included in
the patient's medical record.  The Department of Health and
Senior Services must develop and approve uniform OHDNARO forms
and uniform personal identifiers.  The identifiers must alert any
emergency medical technician, paramedic, first responder, or
other health care provider of the existence of an OHDNARO for the
patient.

The bill specifies the information that must be included on the
OHDNARO form and requires emergency medical technicians,
paramedics, first responders, and other health care providers to
withhold or withdraw an attempt to resuscitate a patient outside
a hospital when notified of an OHDNARO.  Emergency medical
technicians, paramedics, first responders, or other health care
providers are not required to affirmatively inquire about the
existence of an order.  The wishes of family members or other
individuals not authorized in the order to act on the patient's
behalf cannot supersede a valid OHDNARO.

If there is uncertainty about the validity or applicability of an
OHDNARO, the emergency medical technician, paramedic, first
responder, or health care provider must attempt necessary and
appropriate resuscitation.  Compliance or non-compliance with an
OHDNARO must be documented, and hospitals are not precluded from
honoring an OHDNARO.  The bill lists individuals and entities
that are exempt from civil or criminal liability for withholding
or withdrawing resuscitation pursuant to an OHDNARO as long as
the actions were performed in good faith and without gross
negligence.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:19 pm