BILL REQ. #:  S-3925.1 

Read first time 01/19/12.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to shared decision making; and amending RCW 7.70.060.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 7.70.060 and 2007 c 259 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If a patient while legally competent, or his or her representative if he or she is not competent, signs a consent form which sets forth the following, the signed consent form shall constitute prima facie evidence that the patient gave his or her informed consent to the treatment administered and the patient has the burden of rebutting this by a preponderance of the evidence:
     (a) A description, in language the patient could reasonably be expected to understand, of:
     (i) The nature and character of the proposed treatment;
     (ii) The anticipated results of the proposed treatment;
     (iii) The recognized possible alternative forms of treatment; and
     (iv) The recognized serious possible risks, complications, and anticipated benefits involved in the treatment and in the recognized possible alternative forms of treatment, including nontreatment;
     (b) Or as an alternative, a statement that the patient elects not to be informed of the elements set forth in (a) of this subsection.
     (2) If a patient while legally competent, or his or her representative if he or she is not competent, signs an acknowledgment of shared decision making as described in this section, such acknowledgment shall constitute prima facie evidence that the patient gave his or her informed consent to the treatment administered and the patient has the burden of rebutting this by clear and convincing evidence. An acknowledgment of shared decision making shall include:
     (a) A statement that the patient, or his or her representative, and the health care provider have engaged in shared decision making as an alternative means of meeting the informed consent requirements set forth by laws, accreditation standards, and other mandates;
     (b) A brief description of the services that the patient and provider jointly have agreed will be furnished;
     (c) A brief description of the patient decision aid or aids that have been used by the patient and provider to address the needs for (i) high-quality, up-to-date information about the condition, including risk and benefits of available options and, if appropriate, a discussion of the limits of scientific knowledge about outcomes; (ii) values clarification to help patients sort out their values and preferences; and (iii) guidance or coaching in deliberation, designed to improve the patient's involvement in the decision process;
     (d) A statement that the patient or his or her representative understands: The risk or seriousness of the disease or condition to be prevented or treated; the available treatment alternatives, including nontreatment; and the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of the treatment alternatives, including nontreatment; and
     (e) A statement certifying that the patient or his or her representative has had the opportunity to ask the provider questions, and to have any questions answered to the patient's satisfaction, and indicating the patient's intent to receive the identified services.
     (3) As used in this section, "shared decision making" means a process in which the physician or other health care practitioner discusses with the patient or his or her representative the information specified in subsection (2) of this section with the use of a patient decision aid and the patient shares with the provider such relevant personal information as might make one treatment or side effect more or less tolerable than others.
     (4) As used in this section, "patient decision aid" means a written, audio-visual, or online tool that provides a balanced presentation of the condition and treatment options, benefits, and harms, including, if appropriate, a discussion of the limits of scientific knowledge about outcomes((,)) and:
     (a) That is certified by one or more national certifying organizations; or
     (b) If no national certifying organization certifies a patient decision aid, that:
     (i) Meets the international patient decision aids standards; and
     (ii) Is certified by the medical director of the health care authority.
     (5) Failure to use a form or to engage in shared decision making, with or without the use of a patient decision aid, shall not be admissible as evidence of failure to obtain informed consent. There shall be no liability, civil or otherwise, resulting from a health care provider choosing either the signed consent form set forth in subsection (1)(a) of this section or the signed acknowledgment of shared decision making as set forth in subsection (2) of this section.