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SB 517 - This act requires a health care provider to make reasonable efforts to locate an individual willing and available to act as a surrogate to make health care decisions if an adult patient is unable to make or communicate health care treatment decisions and if the patient has not designated an agent to make health care decisions or a guardian has not been appointed. The health care provider shall attempt to locate the following individuals in order of priority to act as a surrogate: (1) Patient's spouse, unless they are legally separated; (2) An adult child of the patient; (3) A parent of the patient; (4) A sibling of the patient; (5) A close friend If the health care provider cannot locate a surrogate, the patient's attending physician may make health care treatment decisions after the physician consults with and obtains the recommendations of an institutional ethics committee, which is a standing committee of a licensed health care institution that renders advice concerning ethical issues involving medical treatment. This act provides civil and criminal immunity to health care providers acting in good faith. ADRIANE CROUSE
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