26:2H-78 - Violations, penalties - New Jersey Statutes

26:2H-78.    Violations, penalties 
     28. a.  A health care professional who intentionally fails to act in accordance with the requirements of this act is subject to discipline for professional misconduct pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-21). 

    b.   A health care institution that intentionally fails to act in accordance with the requirements of this act shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense.  For the purposes of this subsection, each violation shall constitute a separate offense.  Penalties for violations of this act shall be recovered in a summary civil proceeding, brought in the name of the State in a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to "the penalty enforcement law" (N.J.S.2A:58-1 et seq.). 

    c.   The following acts constitute crimes:

    (1)  To willfully conceal, cancel, deface, obliterate or withhold personal knowledge of an advance directive or a modification or revocation thereof, without the declarant's consent, is a crime of the fourth degree. 

    (2)  To falsify or forge an advance directive or a modification or revocation thereof of another individual is a crime of the fourth degree. 

    (3)  To coerce or fraudulently induce the execution of an advance directive or a modification or revocation thereof is a crime of the fourth degree. 

    (4)  To require or prohibit the execution of an advance directive or a modification or revocation thereof as a condition of coverage under any policy of health insurance, life insurance or annuity, or governmental benefits program, or as a condition of the provision of health care is a crime of the fourth degree. 

    d.   Commission of any of the acts identified in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of subsection c., resulting in the involuntary earlier death of a patient, shall constitute a crime of the fourth degree. 

    e.   The sanctions provided in this section shall not be construed to repeal any sanctions applicable under other law. 

    L.1991,c.201,s.28.