Requires health care facilities to respect each patient's religious beliefs with regard to the provision of health care

2 Co-sponsors

• Simcha Felder
• William J. Larkin Jr.

BILL NUMBER:S1054

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring health care facilities to respect each patient's religious beliefs with regard to the provision of care

Purpose

Ensures patients are informed of their civil and religious liberties, and that religious beliefs are respected with regard to withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatments.

Summary of provisions

Section one amends Public Health Law (PHL) § 2803(1)(g) to require the hospital statement of rights and responsibilities to include the right to independent personal decisions pursuant to PHL § 2803-c(3)(a).

Section two amends PI-1L § 2803-c(3)(a) to provide that healthcare facilities shall facilitate and assist patient's in exercising their civil and religious liberties including the right to independent personal decisions and knowledge of available choices. This section also provides that every patient's religious beliefs shall be respected with regard to withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatments or discharge from a facility.

Section three provides the effective date.

Justification

This bill amends the nursing home and hospital patient bill of rights to ensure patients are informed of their civil and religious liberties and to ensure facilities assist and facilitate the exercise of these rights. Further, the bill clarifies that every patient's religious beliefs shall be respected with regard to withholding or withdrawing life sustaining treatments or discharge from a facility.

Legislative history

S.5811: 2013-2014

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

90 days after it shall become law.