N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 10 § 400.21

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 43, October 23, 2024

Section 400.21 - Advance directives

(a)Statement of purpose.

The New York State Health Care Proxy Law allows an adult to designate another adult, such as a trusted friend or loved one who knows the person and his/her wishes, to make treatment decisions if the adult becomes incapacitated and is unable to do so. The Health Care Proxy Law guarantees an adult's right to self-determination and the expression of this right through another adult. Advance directives also allow an adult to express his or her preference regarding health care treatment, including a desire to continue or to refuse treatment and life supports. In the absence of a health care proxy, the Family Health Care Decisions Act allows a surrogate (a family member or close friend) to make treatment decisions on behalf of a patient, in accordance with the patient's wishes, if known, or if the patient's wishes are not known, in accordance with the patient's best interests. Facilities must ensure that all adult patients/residents are informed of their rights and are supported and protected as they exercise their right to formulate written or oral instructions regarding their health care in the event such adults become incapacitated and are unable to direct their own health care.

(b)Definitions.

The following words or phrases shall have the following meanings:

(1) An advance directive means a type of written or oral instruction relating to the provision of health care when an adult becomes incapacitated, including but not limited to a health care proxy, a consent to the issuance of an order not to resuscitate or other medical orders for life-sustaining treatment (MOLST) recorded in a patient's/resident's medical record, and a living will.

(2) A health care proxy means a document created pursuant to article 29-C of the Public Health Law which delegates the authority to another adult known as a health care agent to make health care decisions on behalf of the adult when that adult is incapacitated.

(3) A living will means a document which contains specific instructions concerning an adult's wishes about the type of health care choices and treatments that an adult does or does not want to receive.

(4) A health care agent or agent means an adult to whom authority to make health care decisions is delegated under a health care proxy.

(5) An adult means any person who is 18 years of age or older, or is the parent of a child, or has married.

(6)Medical orders for life-sustaining treatment (MOLST) means medical orders to provide, withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. The MOLST form is an alternative form authorized by the commissioner under subdivision 6 of section 2994-dd of the Public Health Law. The MOLST form and guidance and checklists for using the MOLST form for any patient in any setting are posted on the department's website.

(c)Facility compliance.

The facility shall ensure compliance with the requirements of law governing advance directives, including but not limited to articles 29-C, 29-CC and 29-CCC of the Public Health Law.

(d)Policies and procedures.

The facility shall be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining written policies and procedures addressing advance directives and shall:

(1) make the following material available to each adult patient/resident, or if the adult patient/resident lacks capacity, to the family member or other adult who speaks on the patient's/resident's behalf at or prior to the time of admission to the facility as an inpatient or an outpatient and to each member of the facility's staff who provides patient/resident care. A facility need not provide these items more than once to an outpatient receiving services on a recurring basis:

(i) the description of State law prepared by the department entitled "Deciding About Health Care: A Guide for Patients and Families," which summarizes the rights, duties and requirements of Articles 29-C, 29-CC and 29-CCC; and

(ii) the pamphlet prepared by the department entitled "Health Care Proxy: Appointing your Health Care Agent in New York State," containing a sample health care proxy form;

(2) ensure that there is documentation in each adult's medical record indicating whether or not the adult has executed a health care proxy under article 29-C of the Public Health Law, or whether the adult has provided written or oral advance instructions about treatment to facility staff responsible for the patient's care or to facility employees upon admission;

(3) assess advance directives other than those described in articles 29-C, 29-CC and 29-CCC of the Public Health Law. Nothing herein shall be construed to require that a facility must or may not seek a court determination that any individual advance directive has been expressed in a clear and convincing manner;

(4) provide in-service education to staff involved in the provision of care including medical staff concerning the facility's policies and procedures concerned with advance directives;

(5) provide (individually or with others) education to the community on issues concerning advance directives;

(6) ensure that an adult is not discriminated against in the provision of care or otherwise discriminated against based on whether or not the adult has executed an advance directive; and

(7) in addition a nursing home shall:

(i) educate adult residents about the authority delegated under a health care proxy, what a proxy may include or omit, and how a proxy is created, revoked, or changed as requested by the resident;

(ii) ensure that each resident who creates a proxy while residing at the facility does so voluntarily; and

(iii) designate one or more individuals to educate the residents, respond to questions and assist residents in creating, revoking or changing a proxy.

(e)Medical orders for life-sustaining treatment (MOLST).

To implement a patient's wishes regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other life-sustaining treatment, facilities may, if appropriate, utilize the department approved MOLST form for patients with serious health conditions who:

(1) want to avoid or receive any or all life-sustaining treatment; or

(2) can reasonably be expected to die within one year.

(f) Rights to be publicized.

The facility shall post in a public place in the facility the rights, duties and requirements of this section. Such statement may be included in any other statement of patient's/resident's rights required to be posted.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 10 § 400.21

Amended, New York State Register March 26, 2014/Volume XXXVI, Issue 12, eff. 3/26/2014

Amended New York State Register November 13, 2019/Volume XLI, Issue 46, eff. 11/13/2019