Maine Revised Statutes
Part 8: UNIFORM HEALTH CARE DECISIONS ACT
18-C §5-808. Obligations of health care provider

§5-808. Obligations of health care provider
1. Communicate to patient. Before implementing a health care decision made for a patient, a supervising health care provider, if possible, shall promptly communicate to the patient the decision made and the identity of the person making the decision.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
2. Include in record advance health care directive, surrogate, revocation, disqualification. A supervising health care provider who knows of the existence of an advance health care directive, a revocation of an advance health care directive or a designation or disqualification of a surrogate shall promptly record its existence in the patient's health care record and, if it is in writing, shall request a copy and if one is furnished shall arrange for its maintenance in the health care record.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
3. Include in record determinations on capacity; communicate. A primary physician who makes or is informed of a determination that a patient lacks or has recovered capacity or that another condition exists that affects an individual instruction or the authority of an agent, guardian or surrogate or the validity of an advance health care directive shall promptly record the determination in the patient's health care record and communicate the determination to the patient, if possible, and to any person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
4. Compliance. Except as provided in subsections 5 and 6, a health care provider or health care institution providing care to a patient shall:
A. Comply with an individual instruction of the patient and with a reasonable interpretation of that instruction made by a person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient; and [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. Comply with a health care decision for the patient made by a person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient to the same extent as if the decision had been made by the patient while having capacity. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
5. Decline to comply; not in compliance; reasons of conscience; contrary to policy. A health care provider may decline to comply with an individual instruction or health care decision if the instruction or decision appears not to be in compliance with this Part or for reasons of conscience. A health care institution may decline to comply with an individual instruction or health care decision if the instruction or decision appears not to be in compliance with this Part or if the instruction or decision is contrary to a policy of the institution that is expressly based on reasons of conscience and the policy was timely communicated to the patient or to a person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
6. Decline to comply; ineffective health care; contrary to generally accepted standards. A health care provider or health care institution may decline to comply with an individual instruction or health care decision that requires medically ineffective health care or health care contrary to generally accepted health care standards applicable to the health care provider or institution.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
7. Duties if decline to comply. A health care provider or health care institution that declines to comply with an individual instruction or health care decision shall:
A. Promptly so inform the patient, if possible, and any person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient; [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. Provide continuing care to the patient until a transfer can be effected or a court of competent jurisdiction issues a final order regarding the decision; and [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
C. Unless the patient or person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient refuses assistance, immediately make all reasonable efforts to assist in the transfer of the patient to another health care provider or institution that is willing to comply with the instruction or decision. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
8. Not as a condition for providing health care. A health care provider or health care institution may not require or prohibit the execution or revocation of an advance health care directive as a condition for providing health care.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).