(a) Criminal homicide.--A person shall be subject to prosecution for criminal homicide as provided in 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 25 (relating to criminal homicide) if the person intends to cause the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment contrary to the wishes of the principal or patient and, because of that action, directly causes life-sustaining treatment to be withheld or withdrawn and death to be hastened and:
(1) falsifies or forges the advance health care directive, order, bracelet or necklace of that principal or patient; or
(2) willfully conceals or withholds personal knowledge of a revocation of an advance health care directive or DNR status.
(b) Interference with health care directive.--A person commits a felony of the third degree if that person willfully:
(1) conceals, cancels, alters, defaces, obliterates or damages an advance health care directive, order, bracelet or necklace without the consent of the principal or patient;
(2) causes a person to execute an advance health care directive or order or wear a bracelet or necklace by undue influence, fraud or duress; or
(3) falsifies or forges an advance health care directive, order, bracelet or necklace or any amendment or revocation thereof, the result of which is a direct change in the health care provided to the principal or patient.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 20 - DECEDENTS, ESTATES AND FIDUCIARIES
Section 5423 - Legislative findings and intent
Section 5425 - Conflicting advance health care directives
Section 5426 - Death not suicide or homicide
Section 5428 - Health care instruments optional
Section 5430 - Effect of divorce
Section 5432 - Criminal penalties
Section 5441 - Short title of subchapter
Section 5443 - When living will operative
Section 5445 - Emergency medical services
Section 5451 - Short title of subchapter
Section 5453 - Requirements and options
Section 5454 - When health care power of attorney operative
Section 5455 - Appointment of health care agents
Section 5456 - Authority of health care agent
Section 5460 - Relation of health care agent to court-appointed guardian and other agents
Section 5461 - Decisions by health care representative
Section 5462 - Duties of attending physician and health care provider
Section 5463 - Effect on other State law
Section 5481 - Short title of subchapter
Section 5482 - Legislative findings and intent
Section 5484 - Orders, bracelets and necklaces
Section 5486 - Absence of order, bracelet or necklace