S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4793
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 17, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. HANNON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law and the surrogate's court proce-
dure act, in relation to conforming and improving the process for
determining incapacity
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of section 2983 of the
public health law are renumbered subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
S 2. Subdivision 1 of section 2983 of the public health law, as added
by chapter 752 of the laws of 1990, paragraph (b) as amended by chapter
23 of the laws of 1994 and paragraph (c) as amended by section 7 of part
J of chapter 56 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
1. [Determination] INITIAL DETERMINATION by attending physician. [(a)
A] AN INITIAL determination that a principal lacks capacity to make
health care decisions shall be made by the attending physician to a
reasonable degree of medical certainty. The determination shall be made
in writing and shall contain such attending physician's opinion regard-
ing the cause and nature of the principal's incapacity as well as its
extent and probable duration. The determination shall be included in the
patient's medical record. [For a decision to withdraw or withhold life-
sustaining treatment, the attending physician who makes the determi-
nation that a principal lacks capacity to make health care decisions
must consult with another physician to confirm such determination. Such
consultation shall also be included within the patient's medical record]
A PHYSICIAN WHO HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS A PATIENT'S AGENT SHALL NOT MAKE
THE DETERMINATION OF THE PATIENT'S CAPACITY TO MAKE HEALTH CARE DECI-
SIONS.
2. CONCURRING DETERMINATIONS FOR LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT DECISIONS.
FOR A DECISION TO WITHDRAW OR WITHHOLD LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT, THE
FOLLOWING SHALL APPLY:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05379-01-5
S. 4793 2
(A) THE INITIAL DETERMINATION THAT A PATIENT LACKS CAPACITY SHALL BE
SUBJECT TO A CONCURRING DETERMINATION, INDEPENDENTLY MADE BY A HEALTH OR
SOCIAL SERVICES PRACTITIONER. A CONCURRING DETERMINATION SHALL INCLUDE
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSE AND EXTENT OF THE PATIENT'S INCAPACITY AND
THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE PATIENT WILL REGAIN DECISION-MAKING CAPACITY,
AND SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE PATIENT'S MEDICAL RECORD. HOSPITALS SHALL
ADOPT WRITTEN POLICIES IDENTIFYING THE TRAINING AND CREDENTIALS OF
HEALTH OR SOCIAL SERVICES PRACTITIONERS QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE CONCURRING
DETERMINATIONS OF INCAPACITY CONDUCTED FOR HOSPITAL PATIENTS.
(b) If an attending physician of a patient in a general hospital or
mental hygiene facility determines that a patient lacks capacity because
of mental illness, [the attending physician who makes the determination
must be, or must consult, for the purpose of confirming the determi-
nation, with a qualified psychiatrist] EITHER SUCH PHYSICIAN OR THE
CONCURRING PRACTITIONER MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS: A PHYSI-
CIAN LICENSED TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN NEW YORK STATE, WHO IS A DIPLOMATE
OR ELIGIBLE TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD OF PSYCHIATRY AND
NEUROLOGY OR WHO IS CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC BOARD OF
NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY OR IS ELIGIBLE TO BE CERTIFIED BY THAT BOARD. A
record of such consultation shall be included in the patient's medical
record.
(c) If the attending physician determines that a patient lacks capaci-
ty because of a developmental disability, [the attending physician who
makes the determination must be, or must consult, for the purpose of
confirming the determination, with] EITHER SUCH PHYSICIAN OR THE CONCUR-
RING PRACTITIONER MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS: EITHER (I)
FOR A PATIENT IN A HOSPITAL, A HEALTH OR SOCIAL SERVICES PRACTITIONER
QUALIFIED BY TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE TO MAKE SUCH DETERMINATION IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE WRITTEN POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE HOSPITAL; OR (II)
FOR A PATIENT IN ANY SETTING, a physician or clinical psychologist who
either is employed by a developmental disabilities services office named
in section 13.17 of the mental hygiene law, or who has been employed for
a minimum of two years to render care and service in a facility operated
or licensed by the office for people with developmental disabilities, or
has been approved by the commissioner of developmental disabilities in
accordance with regulations promulgated by such commissioner. Such regu-
lations shall require that a physician or clinical psychologist possess
specialized training or three years experience in treating developmental
disabilities. A record of such consultation shall be included in the
patient's medical record.
[(d) A physician who has been appointed as a patient's agent shall not
make the determination of the patient's capacity to make health care
decisions.]
S 3. Subdivision 3 of section 2994-c of the public health law, as
added by chapter 8 of the laws of 2010, paragraph (b) as amended by
chapter 167 of the laws of 2011, subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (c) as
amended by section 8 of part J of chapter 56 of the laws of 2012, is
amended to read as follows:
3. Concurring determinations FOR LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT DECISIONS.
FOR A DECISION TO WITHDRAW OR WITHHOLD LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT, THEN
THE FOLLOWING SHALL APPLY: (a) An initial determination that a patient
lacks decision-making capacity shall be subject to a concurring determi-
nation, independently made, [where required by this subdivision] BY A
HEALTH OR SOCIAL SERVICES PRACTITIONER EMPLOYED OR OTHERWISE FORMALLY
AFFILIATED WITH THE HOSPITAL. A concurring determination shall include
an assessment of the cause and extent of the patient's incapacity and
S. 4793 3
the likelihood that the patient will regain decision-making capacity,
and shall be included in the patient's medical record. Hospitals shall
adopt written policies identifying the training and credentials of
health or social services practitioners qualified to provide concurring
determinations of incapacity.
(b) [(i) In a residential health care facility, a health or social
services practitioner employed by or otherwise formally affiliated with
the facility must independently determine whether an adult patient lacks
decision-making capacity.
(ii) In a general hospital a health or social services practitioner
employed by or otherwise formally affiliated with the facility must
independently determine whether an adult patient lacks decision-making
capacity if the surrogate's decision concerns the withdrawal or with-
holding of life-sustaining treatment.
(iii)] With respect to decisions regarding hospice care for a patient
in a general hospital or residential health care facility, the health or
social services practitioner must be employed by or otherwise formally
affiliated with the general hospital or residential health care facili-
ty.
(c) (i) If the attending physician makes an initial determination that
a patient lacks decision-making capacity because of mental illness,
either such physician OR THE CONCURRING PRACTITIONER must have the
following qualifications[, or another physician with the following qual-
ifications must independently determine whether the patient lacks deci-
sion-making capacity]: a physician licensed to practice medicine in New
York state, who is a diplomate or eligible to be certified by the Ameri-
can Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or who is certified by the Ameri-
can Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry or is eligible to be
certified by that board. A record of such consultation shall be included
in the patient's medical record.
(ii) If the attending physician makes an initial determination that a
patient lacks decision-making capacity because of a developmental disa-
bility, either such physician OR THE CONCURRING PRACTITIONER must have
the following qualifications[, or another professional with the follow-
ing qualifications must independently determine whether the patient
lacks decision-making capacity]: EITHER (A) A HEALTH OR SOCIAL SERVICES
PRACTITIONER QUALIFIED BY TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE TO MAKE SUCH DETERMI-
NATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WRITTEN POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE HOSPITAL,
OR (B) a physician or clinical psychologist who either is employed by a
developmental disabilities services office named in section 13.17 of the
mental hygiene law, or who has been employed for a minimum of two years
to render care and service in a facility operated or licensed by the
office for people with developmental disabilities, or has been approved
by the commissioner of developmental disabilities in accordance with
regulations promulgated by such commissioner. Such regulations shall
require that a physician or clinical psychologist possess specialized
training or three years experience in treating developmental disabili-
ties. A record of such consultation shall be included in the patient's
medical record.
(d) If an attending physician has determined that the patient lacks
decision-making capacity and if the health or social services practi-
tioner consulted for a concurring determination disagrees with the
attending physician's determination, the matter shall be referred to the
ethics review committee if it cannot otherwise be resolved.
S 4. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 2994-cc of the public health law,
subdivision 3 as added by chapter 8 of the laws of 2010 and subdivision
S. 4793 4
4 as amended by section 131 of subpart B of part C of chapter 62 of the
laws of 2011, are amended to read as follows:
3. Consent by a surrogate shall be governed by article twenty-nine-CC
of this chapter, except that[: (a) a second determination of capacity
shall be made by a health or social services practitioner; and (b)] the
authority of the ethics review committee set forth in article
twenty-nine-CC of this chapter shall apply only to nonhospital orders
issued in a hospital OR HOSPICE.
4. (a) When the concurrence of a second [physician] HEALTH OR SOCIAL
SERVICES PRACTITIONER is sought to fulfill the requirements for the
issuance of a nonhospital order not to resuscitate for patients in a
correctional facility, such second [physician] HEALTH OR SOCIAL SERVICES
PRACTITIONER shall be selected by the chief medical officer of the
department of corrections and community supervision or his or her desig-
nee.
(b) When the concurrence of a second [physician] HEALTH OR SOCIAL
SERVICES PRACTITIONER is sought to fulfill the requirements for the
issuance of a nonhospital order not to resuscitate for [hospice and]
home care patients, such second [physician] HEALTH OR SOCIAL SERVICES
PRACTITIONER shall be selected [by the hospice medical director or
hospice nurse coordinator designated by the medical director or] by the
home care services agency director of patient care services[, as appro-
priate to the patient].
S 5. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 4 of section 1750-b of the surro-
gate's court procedure act, as added by chapter 500 of the laws of 2002,
subparagraph (i) as amended by section 18 of part J of chapter 56 of the
laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The attending physician, as defined in subdivision two of section
twenty-nine hundred eighty of the public health law, [must confirm]
SHALL INITIALLY DETERMINE to a reasonable degree of medical certainty
that the [mentally retarded] DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED person lacks
capacity to make health care decisions. The determination thereof shall
be included in the [mentally retarded] DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED person's
medical record, and shall contain such attending physician's opinion
regarding the cause and nature of the [mentally retarded] DEVELOP-
MENTALLY DISABLED person's incapacity as well as its extent and probable
duration. The attending physician who makes [the confirmation] SUCH
INITIAL DETERMINATION shall consult with another physician, or a
licensed psychologist, to further confirm the [mentally retarded] DEVEL-
OPMENTALLY DISABLED person's lack of capacity. [The] IF THE ATTENDING
PHYSICIAN MAKES AN INITIAL DETERMINATION THAT A PATIENT LACKS CAPACITY
TO MAKE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, THEN
THE attending physician [who makes the confirmation,] or the physician
or licensed psychologist with whom the attending physician consults[,]
EITHER (I) FOR A PATIENT IN A GENERAL HOSPITAL, RESIDENTIAL HEALTH CARE
FACILITY OR HOSPICE, must [(i)] BE QUALIFIED BY TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE
TO MAKE SUCH DETERMINATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE
GENERAL HOSPITAL, RESIDENTIAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY OR HOSPICE; OR (II)
FOR A PATIENT IN ANY SETTING, MUST (A) be employed by a developmental
disabilities services office named in section 13.17 of the mental
hygiene law or employed by the office for people with developmental
disabilities to provide treatment and care to people with developmental
disabilities, or [(ii)] (B) have been employed for a minimum of two
years to render care and service in a facility or program operated,
licensed or authorized by the office [of mental retardation and] FOR
PEOPLE WITH developmental disabilities, or [(iii)] (C) have been
S. 4793 5
approved by the commissioner of [mental retardation and] developmental
disabilities in accordance with regulations promulgated by such commis-
sioner. Such regulations shall require that a physician or licensed
psychologist possess specialized training or three years experience in
treating [mental retardation] DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. A record of
such consultation shall be included in the [mentally retarded] DEVELOP-
MENTALLY DISABLED person's medical record.
S 6. Subdivision 4 of section 2982 of the public health law, as
amended by chapter 370 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as
follows:
4. Priority over other surrogates. Health care decisions by an agent
on a principal's behalf pursuant to this article shall have priority
over decisions by any other person, except as otherwise provided in the
health care proxy or in subdivision [five] SIX of section two thousand
nine hundred eighty-three of this article.
S 7. Subdivision 2 of section 2984 of the public health law, as added
by chapter 752 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
2. A health care provider shall comply with health care decisions made
by an agent in good faith under a health care proxy to the same extent
as if such decisions had been made by the principal, subject to any
limitations in the health care proxy and pursuant to the provisions of
subdivision [five] SIX of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-three
of this article.
S 8. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 7 of section 2983 of the public
health law, as added by chapter 752 of the laws of 1990 and such subdi-
vision as renumbered by section one of this act, is amended to read as
follows:
(b) The notice requirements set forth in subdivision [three] FOUR of
this section shall not apply to the confirmation required by this subdi-
vision.
S 9. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law, provided that the amendments to article 29-C of the
public health law made by section two of this act shall apply to the
decisions made pursuant to health care proxies created prior to the
effective date of this act as well as those created thereafter.
