We support patients’ rights, especially near the end of life, and call for reform of existing legislation so that:
- Texas law should provide that medical personnel may not deny care, change advanced directives, or originate directives for any patient without the permission of the patient or the patient’s designate.
- No “Do Not Resuscitate†order may be ordered for a patient without his/her own or family’s knowledge and consent;
- We also support the passage of legislation to amend the Advance Directive Act by requiring hospitals intending or threatening to withdraw life-sustaining treatment against the patient’s wishes or their advance directive to continue all treatment and care for such patients pending transfer to another facility.