S-4201.2  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6214

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Deccio, Winsley and Franklin)

Read first time 01/28/2000.

Establishing requirements for consent to and refusal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

    AN ACT Relating to requirements for consent to and refusal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

    (1) "Cardiopulmonary resuscitation" means measures to restore cardiac function or to support ventilation in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest.  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall not include measures to improve ventilation and cardiac functions in the absence of an arrest.

    (2) "Do-not-resuscitate" means a decision to not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the event a patient suffers cardiac or respiratory arrest.

    (3) "Legal representative" means a person authorized under RCW 7.70.065 to provide informed consent to health care for a patient who is incompetent, as defined in RCW 11.88.010(1)(e).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) Consent to cardiopulmonary resuscitation or to do-not-resuscitate may be provided by the patient or legal representative when a licensed physician has determined and documented at least one of the following factors:

    (a) A high medical probability, based on the patient's current medical condition, that the patient's heart will stop or breathing will stop, or both will stop;

    (b) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation treatment would be medically futile;

    (c) The patient has a terminal condition as defined in RCW 70.122.020;

    (d) The patient has a permanent unconscious condition, as defined in RCW 70.122.020; or

    (e) Resuscitation would impose an extraordinary burden on the patient given the patient's current medical condition and the expected outcome of resuscitation for the patient.

    (2) A consent to cardiopulmonary resuscitation or do-not-resuscitate expressed according to this chapter must be honored.  This chapter must not be interpreted to limit the ability of an adult person to execute a directive under chapter 70.122 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  Sections 1 and 2 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.

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