(1) In the absence of a living will, the decision to withhold or withdraw life-prolonging procedures from a patient may be made by a health care surrogate designated by the patient pursuant to part II unless the designation limits the surrogate’s authority to consent to the withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures.
(2) Before exercising the incompetent patient’s right to forego treatment, the surrogate must be satisfied that:
(a) The patient does not have a reasonable medical probability of recovering capacity so that the right could be exercised by the patient.
(b) The patient has an end-stage condition, the patient is in a persistent vegetative state, or the patient’s physical condition is terminal.
History.—s. 4, ch. 92-199; s. 28, ch. 99-331; s. 13, ch. 2000-295.
Structure Florida Statutes
Chapter 765 - Health Care Advance Directives
Part III - Life-Prolonging Procedures (Ss. 765.301-765.309)
765.302 - Procedure for making a living will; notice to physician.
765.303 - Suggested form of a living will.
765.304 - Procedure for living will.
765.305 - Procedure in absence of a living will.
765.306 - Determination of patient condition.
765.309 - Mercy killing or euthanasia not authorized; suicide distinguished.