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Iowa Code (Last Updated: December 05, 2016) |
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Title IV. PUBLIC HEALTH |
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Chapter 135. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH |
Section 135.29. Local substitute medical decision-making board.
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1. Each county in this state may establish and fund a local substitute medical decision-making board. The local substitute medical decision-making board shall be comprised of medical professionals and lay persons appointed pursuant to the rules adopted by the department.
2. Pursuant to rules adopted by the department, the local substitute medical decision-making board may act as a substitute decision maker for patients incapable of making their own medical care decisions if no other substitute decision maker is available to act. The local substitute medical decision-making board may exercise decision-making authority in situations where there is sufficient time to review the patient’s condition, and a reasonably prudent person would consider a decision to be medically necessary. Such medically necessary decisions shall constitute good cause for subsequently filing a petition in the district court for appointment of a guardian pursuant to chapter 633, but the local substitute medical decision-making board shall continue to act in the patient’s best interests until a guardian is appointed. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary regarding confidentiality of medical records, the local substitute decision-making board may issue subpoenas relating to the production of medical records of a patient under the board’s review. A person participating in good faith in releasing medical record information in response to a board subpoena is immune from any liability, civil or criminal, which might otherwise be incurred or imposed.
3. The local substitute medical decision-making board and its members shall not be held liable, jointly or severally, for any actions or omissions taken or made in the official discharge of their duties, except those acts or omissions constituting willful or wanton misconduct. A physician or other health care provider who acts on a decision or directive of the local substitute medical decision-making board shall not be held liable for any damages resulting from that act, unless such physician’s or other health care provider’s actions or omissions constitute negligence in the practice of the profession or occupation, or willful or wanton misconduct.