Connecticut Now Honors Advance Directives Even When the Patient Is Pregnant

Connecticut has dropped off the list of states that constrain the validity of advance directives when the patient is pregnant. On May 24, 2018, the Governor signed H.B. 5148. Under prior Connecticut law, a woman's health care wishes were automatically nullified if they were pregnant, forcing them to receive medical life-sustaining treatment when they are permanently unconscious, incapacitated, or terminally ill, despite contrary instructions in their advance directive. Under the new law, advance directives permit women to indicate their preferences when they are pregnant, including whether they: 1. Intend to accept life support if her doctor believes that doing so would allow the fetus to reach a live birth. 2. Intend the document to apply without modifications. 3. Intend the document to apply differently.

Read more detail on Recent Health Care Law posts –

This entry was posted in Health Law and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply