(a) Any person who willfully conceals, cancels, defaces, obliterates, or damages the advance directive of another without the declarant’s or patient’s consent or who falsifies or forges a revocation of the advance directive of another, thereby causing life-sustaining procedures to be utilized in contravention of the previously expressed intent of the patient, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both.
(b) Any person who falsifies or forges the advance directive of another, or falsifies or forges an affidavit under § 5-605 of this subtitle, or willfully conceals or withholds personal knowledge of the revocation of an advance directive with the intent to cause a withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures, contrary to the wishes of the declarant and thereby, because of such act, directly causes life-sustaining procedures to be withheld or withdrawn and death to be hastened, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both.
(c) The penalties provided in this section shall be in addition to any other penalties provided by law.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 6 - Health Care Decisions Act
Section 5-601.1 - Electronic Signatures
Section 5-602 - Procedure for Making Advance Directive; Notice to Physician -- Living Wills
Section 5-602.1 - Advance Directive for Mental Health Services
Section 5-603 - Suggested Forms -- Living Wills
Section 5-604 - Revocation of an Advance Directive
Section 5-604.1 - Anatomical Gifts in Advance Directives
Section 5-605 - Surrogate Decision Making
Section 5-606 - Certifications by Physicians
Section 5-607 - Treatment Without Consent
Section 5-608.1 - Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment
Section 5-609 - Immunity From Liability; Burden of Proof; Presumption
Section 5-612 - Petition by Health Care Provider; Court Action
Section 5-615 - Provision of Information
Section 5-615.1 - Electronic Advance Directives -- Duties of Department; Outreach
Section 5-616 - Preservation of Existing Right; Advance Directives Executed Before Effective Date