SB2974 EnrolledLRB102 22492 LNS 31633 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Health Care Surrogate Act is amended by
5changing Section 10 as follows:
 
6    (755 ILCS 40/10)  (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 851-10)
7    (Text of Section from P.A. 102-140)
8    Sec. 10. Definitions.
9    "Adult" means a person who is (i) 18 years of age or older
10or (ii) an emancipated minor under the Emancipation of Minors
11Act.
12    "Artificial nutrition and hydration" means supplying food
13and water through a conduit, such as a tube or intravenous
14line, where the recipient is not required to chew or swallow
15voluntarily, including, but not limited to, nasogastric tubes,
16gastrostomies, jejunostomies, and intravenous infusions.
17Artificial nutrition and hydration does not include assisted
18feeding, such as spoon or bottle feeding.
19    "Available" means that a person is not "unavailable". A
20person is unavailable if (i) the person's existence is not
21known, (ii) the person has not been able to be contacted by
22telephone or mail, or (iii) the person lacks decisional
23capacity, refuses to accept the office of surrogate, or is

 

 

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1unwilling to respond in a manner that indicates a choice among
2the treatment matters at issue.
3    "Attending physician" means the physician selected by or
4assigned to the patient who has primary responsibility for
5treatment and care of the patient and who is a licensed
6physician in Illinois or a physician licensed in the state
7where the patient is being treated. If more than one physician
8shares that responsibility, any of those physicians may act as
9the attending physician under this Act.
10    "Close friend" means any person 18 years of age or older
11who has exhibited special care and concern for the patient and
12who presents an affidavit to the attending physician stating
13that he or she (i) is a close friend of the patient, (ii) is
14willing and able to become involved in the patient's health
15care, and (iii) has maintained such regular contact with the
16patient as to be familiar with the patient's activities,
17health, and religious and moral beliefs. The affidavit must
18also state facts and circumstances that demonstrate that
19familiarity.
20    "Death" means when, according to accepted medical
21standards, there is (i) an irreversible cessation of
22circulatory and respiratory functions or (ii) an irreversible
23cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the
24brain stem.
25    "Decisional capacity" means the ability to understand and
26appreciate the nature and consequences of a decision regarding

 

 

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1medical treatment or forgoing life-sustaining treatment and
2the ability to reach and communicate an informed decision in
3the matter as determined by the attending physician.
4    "Forgo life-sustaining treatment" means to withhold,
5withdraw, or terminate all or any portion of life-sustaining
6treatment with knowledge that the patient's death is likely to
7result.
8    "Guardian" means a court appointed guardian of the person
9who serves as a representative of a minor or as a
10representative of a person under legal disability.
11    "Health care facility" means a type of health care
12provider commonly known by a wide variety of titles, including
13but not limited to, hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes,
14rehabilitation centers, long term or tertiary care facilities,
15and other facilities established to administer health care and
16provide overnight stays in their ordinary course of business
17or practice.
18    "Health care provider" means a person that is licensed,
19certified, or otherwise authorized or permitted by the law of
20this State or licensed in the state where the patient is being
21treated to administer health care in the ordinary course of
22business or practice of a profession, including, but not
23limited to, physicians, nurses, health care facilities, and
24any employee, officer, director, agent, or person under
25contract with such a person.
26    "Imminent" (as in "death is imminent") means a

 

 

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1determination made by the attending physician according to
2accepted medical standards that death will occur in a
3relatively short period of time, even if life-sustaining
4treatment is initiated or continued.
5    "Life-sustaining treatment" means any medical treatment,
6procedure, or intervention that, in the judgment of the
7attending physician, when applied to a patient with a
8qualifying condition, would not be effective to remove the
9qualifying condition or would serve only to prolong the dying
10process. Those procedures can include, but are not limited to,
11assisted ventilation, renal dialysis, surgical procedures,
12blood transfusions, and the administration of drugs,
13antibiotics, and artificial nutrition and hydration.
14    "Minor" means an individual who is not an adult as defined
15in this Act.
16    "Parent" means a person who is the natural or adoptive
17mother or father of the child and whose parental rights have
18not been terminated by a court of law.
19    "Patient" means an adult or minor individual, unless
20otherwise specified, under the care or treatment of a licensed
21physician or other health care provider.
22    "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a business
23trust, a trust, a partnership, an association, a government, a
24governmental subdivision or agency, or any other legal entity.
25    "Qualifying condition" means the existence of one or more
26of the following conditions in a patient certified in writing

 

 

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1in the patient's medical record by the attending physician and
2by at least one other qualified health care practitioner:
3        (1) "Terminal condition" means an illness or injury
4    for which there is no reasonable prospect of cure or
5    recovery, death is imminent, and the application of
6    life-sustaining treatment would only prolong the dying
7    process.
8        (2) "Permanent unconsciousness" means a condition
9    that, to a high degree of medical certainty, (i) will last
10    permanently, without improvement, (ii) in which thought,
11    sensation, purposeful action, social interaction, and
12    awareness of self and environment are absent, and (iii)
13    for which initiating or continuing life-sustaining
14    treatment, in light of the patient's medical condition,
15    provides only minimal medical benefit.
16        (3) "Incurable or irreversible condition" means an
17    illness or injury (i) for which there is no reasonable
18    prospect of cure or recovery, (ii) that ultimately will
19    cause the patient's death even if life-sustaining
20    treatment is initiated or continued, (iii) that imposes
21    severe pain or otherwise imposes an inhumane burden on the
22    patient, and (iv) for which initiating or continuing
23    life-sustaining treatment, in light of the patient's
24    medical condition, provides only minimal medical benefit.
25    The determination that a patient has a qualifying
26condition creates no presumption regarding the application or

 

 

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1non-application of life-sustaining treatment. It is only after
2a determination by the attending physician that the patient
3has a qualifying condition that the surrogate decision maker
4may consider whether or not to forgo life-sustaining
5treatment. In making this decision, the surrogate shall weigh
6the burdens on the patient of initiating or continuing
7life-sustaining treatment against the benefits of that
8treatment.
9    "Qualified health care practitioner" means an individual
10who has personally examined the patient and who is licensed in
11an Illinois or in the state where the patient is being treated
12and who is a licensed physician, advanced practice registered
13nurse, physician assistant, or resident with at least one year
14of graduate or specialty training in this State who holds a an
15Illinois temporary license to practice medicine and is
16enrolled in a residency program accredited by the Liaison
17Committee on Graduate Medical Education or the Bureau of
18Professional Education of the American Osteopathic
19Association.
20    "Physician" means a physician licensed to practice
21medicine in all its branches in this State or in the state
22where the patient is being treated.
23    "Surrogate decision maker" means an adult individual or
24individuals who (i) have decisional capacity, (ii) are
25available upon reasonable inquiry, (iii) are willing to make
26medical treatment decisions on behalf of a patient who lacks

 

 

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1decisional capacity, and (iv) are identified by the attending
2physician in accordance with the provisions of this Act as the
3person or persons who are to make those decisions in
4accordance with the provisions of this Act.
5(Source: P.A. 102-140, eff. 1-1-22.)
 
6    (Text of Section from P.A. 102-182)
7    Sec. 10. Definitions.
8    "Adult" means a person who is (i) 18 years of age or older
9or (ii) an emancipated minor under the Emancipation of Minors
10Act.
11    "Artificial nutrition and hydration" means supplying food
12and water through a conduit, such as a tube or intravenous
13line, where the recipient is not required to chew or swallow
14voluntarily, including, but not limited to, nasogastric tubes,
15gastrostomies, jejunostomies, and intravenous infusions.
16Artificial nutrition and hydration does not include assisted
17feeding, such as spoon or bottle feeding.
18    "Available" means that a person is not "unavailable". A
19person is unavailable if (i) the person's existence is not
20known, (ii) the person has not been able to be contacted by
21telephone or mail, or (iii) the person lacks decisional
22capacity, refuses to accept the office of surrogate, or is
23unwilling to respond in a manner that indicates a choice among
24the treatment matters at issue.
25    "Attending physician" means the physician selected by or

 

 

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1assigned to the patient who has primary responsibility for
2treatment and care of the patient and who is a licensed
3physician in Illinois or a physician licensed in the state
4where the patient is being treated. If more than one physician
5shares that responsibility, any of those physicians may act as
6the attending physician under this Act.
7    "Close friend" means any person 18 years of age or older
8who has exhibited special care and concern for the patient and
9who presents an affidavit to the attending physician stating
10that he or she (i) is a close friend of the patient, (ii) is
11willing and able to become involved in the patient's health
12care, and (iii) has maintained such regular contact with the
13patient as to be familiar with the patient's activities,
14health, and religious and moral beliefs. The affidavit must
15also state facts and circumstances that demonstrate that
16familiarity.
17    "Death" means when, according to accepted medical
18standards, there is (i) an irreversible cessation of
19circulatory and respiratory functions or (ii) an irreversible
20cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the
21brain stem.
22    "Decisional capacity" means the ability to understand and
23appreciate the nature and consequences of a decision regarding
24medical treatment or forgoing life-sustaining treatment and
25the ability to reach and communicate an informed decision in
26the matter as determined by the attending physician.

 

 

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1    "Forgo life-sustaining treatment" means to withhold,
2withdraw, or terminate all or any portion of life-sustaining
3treatment with knowledge that the patient's death is likely to
4result.
5    "Guardian" means a court appointed guardian of the person
6who serves as a representative of a minor or as a
7representative of a person under legal disability.
8    "Health care facility" means a type of health care
9provider commonly known by a wide variety of titles, including
10but not limited to, hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes,
11rehabilitation centers, long term or tertiary care facilities,
12and other facilities established to administer health care and
13provide overnight stays in their ordinary course of business
14or practice.
15    "Health care provider" means a person that is licensed,
16certified, or otherwise authorized or permitted by the law of
17this State or licensed in the state where the patient is being
18treated to administer health care in the ordinary course of
19business or practice of a profession, including, but not
20limited to, physicians, nurses, health care facilities, and
21any employee, officer, director, agent, or person under
22contract with such a person.
23    "Imminent" (as in "death is imminent") means a
24determination made by the attending physician according to
25accepted medical standards that death will occur in a
26relatively short period of time, even if life-sustaining

 

 

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1treatment is initiated or continued.
2    "Life-sustaining treatment" means any medical treatment,
3procedure, or intervention that, in the judgment of the
4attending physician, when applied to a patient with a
5qualifying condition, would not be effective to remove the
6qualifying condition or would serve only to prolong the dying
7process. Those procedures can include, but are not limited to,
8assisted ventilation, renal dialysis, surgical procedures,
9blood transfusions, and the administration of drugs,
10antibiotics, and artificial nutrition and hydration.
11    "Minor" means an individual who is not an adult as defined
12in this Act.
13    "Parent" means a person who is the natural or adoptive
14mother or father of the child and whose parental rights have
15not been terminated by a court of law.
16    "Patient" means an adult or minor individual, unless
17otherwise specified, under the care or treatment of a licensed
18physician or other health care provider.
19    "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a business
20trust, a trust, a partnership, an association, a government, a
21governmental subdivision or agency, or any other legal entity.
22    "Qualifying condition" means the existence of one or more
23of the following conditions in a patient certified in writing
24in the patient's medical record by the attending physician and
25by at least one other qualified health care practitioner
26physician:

 

 

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1        (1) "Terminal condition" means an illness or injury
2    for which there is no reasonable prospect of cure or
3    recovery, death is imminent, and the application of
4    life-sustaining treatment would only prolong the dying
5    process.
6        (2) "Permanent unconsciousness" means a condition
7    that, to a high degree of medical certainty, (i) will last
8    permanently, without improvement, (ii) in which thought,
9    sensation, purposeful action, social interaction, and
10    awareness of self and environment are absent, and (iii)
11    for which initiating or continuing life-sustaining
12    treatment, in light of the patient's medical condition,
13    provides only minimal medical benefit.
14        (3) "Incurable or irreversible condition" means an
15    illness or injury (i) for which there is no reasonable
16    prospect of cure or recovery, (ii) that ultimately will
17    cause the patient's death even if life-sustaining
18    treatment is initiated or continued, (iii) that imposes
19    severe pain or otherwise imposes an inhumane burden on the
20    patient, and (iv) for which initiating or continuing
21    life-sustaining treatment, in light of the patient's
22    medical condition, provides only minimal medical benefit.
23    The determination that a patient has a qualifying
24condition creates no presumption regarding the application or
25non-application of life-sustaining treatment. It is only after
26a determination by the attending physician that the patient

 

 

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1has a qualifying condition that the surrogate decision maker
2may consider whether or not to forgo life-sustaining
3treatment. In making this decision, the surrogate shall weigh
4the burdens on the patient of initiating or continuing
5life-sustaining treatment against the benefits of that
6treatment.
7    "Qualified health care practitioner" means an individual
8who has personally examined the patient and who is licensed in
9Illinois or in the state where the patient is being treated and
10who is a physician, advanced practice registered nurse,
11physician assistant, or resident with at least one year of
12graduate or specialty training who holds a temporary license
13to practice medicine and is enrolled in a residency program
14accredited by the Liaison Committee on Graduate Medical
15Education or the Bureau of Professional Education of the
16American Osteopathic Association.
17    "Physician" means a physician licensed to practice
18medicine in all its branches in this State or in the state
19where the patient is being treated.
20    "Qualified physician" means a physician licensed to
21practice medicine in all of its branches in Illinois or a
22physician licensed in the state where the patient is being
23treated who has personally examined the patient.
24    "Surrogate decision maker" means an adult individual or
25individuals who (i) have decisional capacity, (ii) are
26available upon reasonable inquiry, (iii) are willing to make

 

 

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1medical treatment decisions on behalf of a patient who lacks
2decisional capacity, and (iv) are identified by the attending
3physician in accordance with the provisions of this Act as the
4person or persons who are to make those decisions in
5accordance with the provisions of this Act.
6(Source: P.A. 102-182, eff. 7-30-21.)
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.