New Law Impacts Notice Of Removing Patients From Life Support

Portable hospital bed in hallway

Photo: David Sacks / The Image Bank / Getty Images

A new state law takes effect Friday that will increase how much notice hospitals have to give patients' families that they intend to end care. House Bill 3162 says hospitals that plan to end what they call "futile" care have to notify the patient's family 25-days ahead of time instead of ten-days. The added time gives relatives a chance to find another facility willing to treat the patient. Texas is one of the few states that require a notice period before doctors can remove a patient from life support.


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