TITLE 17. EDUCATION

CHAPTER 12. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

PART II. ANATOMICAL GIFT ACT

17:2354.9       Effect of anatomical gift on advance health care directives

A. For the purposes of this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) "Advance health care directive" means a power of attorney for health care or a record signed by a prospective donor containing his direction concerning health care decisions.

(2) "Declaration" means a record signed by a prospective donor specifying the circumstance in which a life support system may be withheld or withdrawn from the donor.

(3) "Health care decision" means any decision made regarding the health care of the prospective donor.

B. If a prospective donor has a declaration or advance health care directive and the express or implied terms of a potential anatomical gift are in conflict with regard to the administration of measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of a part for transplantation or therapy, the attending physician and the donor shall confer to resolve the conflict.  If the conflict cannot be resolved, a reasonably available agent acting for the declaration or directive, or if none, another person authorized by law to make health care decisions on behalf of the donor, shall act for him to resolve the conflict.  The conflict shall be resolved as expeditiously as possible.  Information relevant to the resolution of the conflict may be obtained from the appropriate procurement organization and any other person authorized to make an anatomical gift for the donor in accordance with R.S. 17:2354.2.  Before resolution of the conflict, measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the part may not be withheld or withdrawn from the prospective donor if doing so is not contraindicated by appropriate end of life care.

Acts 2010, No. 937, § 2, eff. July 1, 2010.