449.640 - Consideration of declaration and other factors; failure to follow directions of patient. - Nevada Statutes

449.640  Consideration of declaration and other factors; failure to follow directions of patient.

      1.  If a patient in a terminal condition has a declaration in effect and becomes comatose or is otherwise rendered incapable of communicating with his or her attending physician, the physician must give weight to the declaration as evidence of the patient’s directions regarding the application of life-sustaining treatments, but the attending physician may also consider other factors in determining whether the circumstances warrant following the directions.

      2.  No hospital or other medical facility, physician or person working under the direction of a physician is subject to criminal or civil liability for failure to follow the directions of the patient to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments.

      (Added to NRS by 1977, 761; A 1985, 1747; 1993, 2792)