Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 449A - Care and Rights of Patients
NRS 449A.475 - Actions contrary to reasonable medical standards not required; mercy-killing, assisted suicide or euthanasia not authorized.


1. NRS 449A.400 to 449A.481, inclusive, do not require a physician or other provider of health care to take action contrary to reasonable medical standards.
2. NRS 449A.400 to 449A.481, inclusive, do not condone, authorize or approve mercy-killing, assisted suicide or euthanasia.
(Added to NRS by 1977, 761; A 1991, 637; 1995, 1794)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 449.670)

Structure Nevada Revised Statutes

Nevada Revised Statutes

Chapter 449A - Care and Rights of Patients

NRS 449A.001 - Definitions. [Effective through December 31, 2021.] Definitions. [Effective January 1, 2022.]

NRS 449A.003 - "Agency to provide nursing in the home" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.005 - "Agency to provide personal care services in the home" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.007 - "Board" defined.

NRS 449A.009 - "Community-based living arrangement services" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.011 - Community health worker" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.013 - Community health worker pool" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.015 - "Community triage center" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.017 - "Division" defined.

NRS 449A.019 - "Facility for hospice care" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.021 - "Facility for intermediate care" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.023 - "Facility for modified medical detoxification" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.025 - "Facility for refractive surgery" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.027 - "Facility for skilled nursing" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.029 - "Facility for the care of adults during the day" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.031 - "Facility for the dependent" defined.

NRS 449A.033 - "Facility for the treatment of alcohol or other substance use disorders" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.035 - "Facility for the treatment of irreversible renal disease" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.037 - "Facility for transitional living for released offenders" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.039 - "Halfway house for persons recovering from alcohol or other substance use disorders" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.041 - "Home for individual residential care" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.043 - "Hospice care" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.045 - "Hospital" defined.

NRS 449A.047 - "Independent center for emergency medical care" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.050 - "Medical facility" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.] "Medical facility" defined. [Effective January 1, 2022.]

NRS 449A.052 - "Mobile unit" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.054 - "Nursing pool" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.056 - "Obstetric center" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.058 - "Palliative services" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.060 - Peer support recovery organization" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.062 - Peer support services" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.064 - "Provider of health care" defined.

NRS 449A.066 - "Provider of supported living arrangement services" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.068 - "Psychiatric hospital" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.071 - "Registered nurse" defined.

NRS 449A.073 - "Residential facility for groups" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.075 - "Rural clinic" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.077 - "Supported living arrangement services" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.079 - "Surgical center for ambulatory patients" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]

NRS 449A.081 - "Terminally ill" defined.

NRS 449A.100 - Facility to provide necessary services or arrange for transfer of patient; explanation of need for transfer and alternatives available.

NRS 449A.103 - Facility to forward medical records upon certain transfers of patient.

NRS 449A.106 - Specific rights: Information concerning facility; treatment; billing; visitation.

NRS 449A.109 - Specific rights: Designation of persons authorized to visit patient in facility.

NRS 449A.112 - Specific rights: Care; refusal of treatment and experimentation; privacy; notice of appointments and need for care; confidentiality of information concerning patient.

NRS 449A.114 - Certain facilities to notify patient and State Long-Term Care Ombudsman of intent to transfer patient and provide opportunity for patient or representative to meet with administrator; exceptions. [Effective through December 31, 2021.]...

NRS 449A.115 - Owner and administrator of certain facility prohibited from receiving certain money or property from resident or former resident; exception.

NRS 449A.118 - Patient to be informed of rights upon admission to facility; required disclosures and notices.

NRS 449A.121 - Procedure to insert implant in breast of patient: Informed consent required; withdrawal of consent; penalty.

NRS 449A.124 - Procedure to insert implant in breast of patient: Contents of explanation form and consent form; fee for forms.

NRS 449A.150 - Definitions.

NRS 449A.153 - "Hospital care" defined.

NRS 449A.156 - "Responsible party" defined.

NRS 449A.159 - Limitations on efforts of hospitals to collect; date for accrual of interest; rate of interest; limitations on additional fees.

NRS 449A.162 - Limitations on efforts of hospital to collect when hospital has contractual agreement with third party that provides health coverage for care provided; return to patient of any excess amount collected; exception. [Effective through Dec...

NRS 449A.165 - Manner of collection.

NRS 449A.200 - Definitions.

NRS 449A.203 - "Aversive intervention" defined.

NRS 449A.206 - "Chemical restraint" defined.

NRS 449A.209 - "Corporal punishment" defined.

NRS 449A.212 - "Electric shock" defined.

NRS 449A.215 - "Emergency" defined.

NRS 449A.218 - "Facility" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2021.] "Facility" defined. [Effective January 1, 2022.]

NRS 449A.221 - "Mechanical restraint" defined.

NRS 449A.224 - "Person with a disability" defined.

NRS 449A.227 - "Physical restraint" defined.

NRS 449A.230 - "Verbal and mental abuse" defined.

NRS 449A.233 - Aversive intervention: Prohibition on use.

NRS 449A.236 - Forms of restraint: Restrictions on use.

NRS 449A.239 - Physical restraint: Permissible use; report of use in emergency.

NRS 449A.242 - Mechanical restraint: Permissible use; report of use in emergency.

NRS 449A.245 - Chemical restraint: Permissible use; report of use.

NRS 449A.248 - Authorized use of certain forms of restraint by certain facilities.

NRS 449A.251 - Education and training of members of staff of facility.

NRS 449A.254 - Violations: Criminal penalties; ineligibility for employment; disciplinary action.

NRS 449A.257 - Violations: Report required; development and review of and compliance with corrective plan.

NRS 449A.260 - Prohibition on retaliation against person for reporting or providing information regarding violation.

NRS 449A.263 - Entry of denial of rights in patient’s record; notice and report of denial; action by Division.

NRS 449A.300 - Definitions.

NRS 449A.303 - Aftercare" defined.

NRS 449A.306 - Caregiver" defined.

NRS 449A.309 - Representative of the patient" defined.

NRS 449A.312 - Designation of caregiver for a patient, removal of designation and designation of new caregiver under certain circumstances; designation does not establish obligation to patient.

NRS 449A.315 - Hospital to provide opportunity to designate caregiver for patient before discharge or when patient regains competence.

NRS 449A.318 - Hospital to record designation or change of caregiver and request consent to release medical information to caregiver if required; hospital to record declination to designate caregiver.

NRS 449A.321 - Hospital to attempt to notify caregiver before planned discharge or transfer of patient.

NRS 449A.324 - Hospital to attempt to provide caregiver with discharge plan; contents of discharge plan; hospital to attempt to consult with caregiver regarding aftercare.

NRS 449A.327 - Hospital to document certain actions and instructions in medical record of patient; hospital to proceed with planned discharge or transfer of patient if unable to reach caregiver.

NRS 449A.330 - Hospital and employees and contractors of hospital not liable for aftercare provided improperly or not provided by caregiver.

NRS 449A.400 - Short title; uniformity of application and construction.

NRS 449A.403 - Definitions.

NRS 449A.406 - "Advanced practice registered nurse" defined.

NRS 449A.409 - "Attending advanced practice registered nurse" defined.

NRS 449A.412 - "Attending physician" defined.

NRS 449A.415 - "Declaration" defined.

NRS 449A.418 - "Life-sustaining treatment" defined.

NRS 449A.421 - "Person" defined.

NRS 449A.424 - "Provider of health care" defined.

NRS 449A.427 - "Qualified patient" defined.

NRS 449A.430 - "Terminal condition" defined.

NRS 449A.433 - Declaration relating to use of life-sustaining treatment.

NRS 449A.436 - Form of declaration directing physician or advanced practice registered nurse to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.

NRS 449A.439 - Form of declaration designating another person to decide to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.

NRS 449A.442 - Time declaration becomes operative; duty of providers of health care.

NRS 449A.445 - Revocation of declaration; entry of revocation in medical records of declarant.

NRS 449A.448 - Recording determination of terminal condition and declaration.

NRS 449A.451 - Treatment of qualified patients; withholding or withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration; treatment of pregnant patient.

NRS 449A.454 - Written consent to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.

NRS 449A.457 - Transfer of care of declarant.

NRS 449A.460 - Immunity from civil and criminal liability and discipline for unprofessional conduct.

NRS 449A.463 - Consideration of declaration and other factors; failure to follow directions of patient.

NRS 449A.466 - Assumption of validity of declaration; presumption of intent to use, withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment not created.

NRS 449A.469 - Death does not constitute suicide or homicide; effect of declaration on policy of insurance; prohibiting or requiring execution of declaration prohibited as condition for insurance or receipt of health care.

NRS 449A.472 - Penalties.

NRS 449A.475 - Actions contrary to reasonable medical standards not required; mercy-killing, assisted suicide or euthanasia not authorized.

NRS 449A.478 - Other right or responsibility regarding use of life-sustaining treatment or withholding or withdrawal of medical care not limited.

NRS 449A.481 - Validity of declaration executed in another state; effect of previously executed instrument.

NRS 449A.500 - Definitions.

NRS 449A.503 - "Advanced practice registered nurse" defined.

NRS 449A.506 - "Attending advanced practice registered nurse" defined.

NRS 449A.509 - "Attending physician" defined.

NRS 449A.512 - "Attending physician assistant" defined.

NRS 449A.515 - "Do-not-resuscitate identification" defined.

NRS 449A.518 - "Do-not-resuscitate order" defined.

NRS 449A.521 - "Emergency care" defined.

NRS 449A.524 - "Health care facility" defined.

NRS 449A.527 - "Life-resuscitating treatment" defined.

NRS 449A.530 - "Life-sustaining treatment" defined.

NRS 449A.533 - "Other types of advance directives" defined.

NRS 449A.536 - "Physician assistant" defined.

NRS 449A.539 - "Provider of health care" defined.

NRS 449A.542 - "Provider Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment form" or "POLST form" defined.

NRS 449A.545 - "Representative of the patient" defined.

NRS 449A.548 - Board to prescribe standardized POLST form; requirements.

NRS 449A.551 - Explanation of POLST form to patient; completion of form; validity of form; actions authorized for patient who regains capacity.

NRS 449A.554 - Revocation of POLST form; entry of revocation in medical records of patient.

NRS 449A.557 - Conflict with other advance directive or do-not-resuscitate identification.

NRS 449A.560 - Immunity from civil and criminal liability and from discipline for unprofessional conduct.

NRS 449A.563 - Provider of health care required to comply with valid POLST form; modification by provider; transfer of care of patient; exceptions.

NRS 449A.566 - Assumption of validity of POLST form; presumption of intent of patient not created if patient has revoked or not executed POLST form.

NRS 449A.569 - Death does not constitute suicide or homicide; effect of POLST form on policy of insurance; prohibiting or requiring execution of POLST form prohibited as condition for insurance or receipt of health care.

NRS 449A.572 - Unlawful acts; penalty.

NRS 449A.575 - Actions contrary to reasonable medical standards not required; mercy-killing, euthanasia or assisted suicide not authorized; rights associated with other advance directives not impaired; right to make decisions concerning emergency car...

NRS 449A.578 - Validity of POLST form executed in another state.

NRS 449A.581 - Regulations.

NRS 449A.600 - Definitions.

NRS 449A.603 - "Advance directive for psychiatric care" or "advance directive" defined.

NRS 449A.606 - "Attending physician" defined.

NRS 449A.609 - "Principal" defined.

NRS 449A.612 - "Provider of health care" defined.

NRS 449A.615 - "Psychiatric care" defined.

NRS 449A.618 - Execution of advance directive; period of effectiveness.

NRS 449A.621 - Form.

NRS 449A.624 - Requirements for advance directive to become operative; effect.

NRS 449A.627 - No presumption concerning intention of person without advance directive.

NRS 449A.630 - Provider to make advance directive part of principal’s medical record.

NRS 449A.633 - Revocation.

NRS 449A.636 - Provider to comply with advance directive; exceptions.

NRS 449A.639 - Transfer of care of principal.

NRS 449A.642 - Provider to inquire whether person has advance directive for psychiatric care; immunity from liability for certain actions relating to advance directive.

NRS 449A.645 - Validity of advance directive executed in another state or instrument executed before May 26, 2017.

NRS 449A.700 - Definitions.

NRS 449A.703 - "Advance directive" defined.

NRS 449A.706 - "Registrant" defined.

NRS 449A.709 - "Registry" defined.

NRS 449A.712 - Establishment and maintenance; information to be included in Registry.

NRS 449A.715 - Registration of advance directive: Requirements; duties of Secretary of State.

NRS 449A.718 - Access to advance directive.

NRS 449A.721 - Removal of advance directive of deceased registrant.

NRS 449A.724 - Secretary of State not required to determine accuracy of contents of advance directive or validity of advance directive; effect of registration, failure to register and failure to notify Secretary of State of revocation of advance dire...

NRS 449A.727 - Provider of health care not required to inquire whether patient has registered advance directive or access Registry; immunity of provider of health care from criminal and civil liability.

NRS 449A.730 - Immunity of Secretary of State and deputies, employees and attorneys of Secretary of State.

NRS 449A.733 - Suspension of components of Registry and duties of Secretary of State if sufficient money not available; fees authorized; acceptance of gifts and grants.

NRS 449A.736 - Deposit, accounting and use of money received; interest and income earned on money received; payment of claims.

NRS 449A.739 - Regulations.