Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of January 01, 2023 | Updated by FindLaw Staff
A. Nothing in this Subpart shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve assistance to suicide, mercy killing, or euthanasia; or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying.
B. (1) The withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures from a qualified patient in accordance with the provisions of this Subpart shall not, for any purpose, constitute a suicide.
(2) Nor shall the making of a declaration pursuant to this Subpart affect the sale, procurement, or issuance of any life insurance policy, nor shall it be deemed to modify the terms of an existing policy.
(3) No policy shall be legally impaired or invalidated by the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures from an insured, qualified patient, notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary.
(4) A person shall not be required to make a declaration as a condition for being insured or for receiving health care services.
(5) The removal of life support systems or the failure to administer cardio-pulmonary resuscitation under this Subpart shall not be deemed the cause of death for purposes of insurance coverage.
C. The provisions of this Subpart are cumulative with existing law pertaining to an individual's right to consent or refuse to consent to medical or surgical treatment.
D. A declaration properly executed in and under the laws of another state is deemed to be validly executed for purposes of this Subpart.
E. It is the policy of the state of Louisiana that human life is of the highest and inestimable value through natural death. When interpreting this Subpart, any ambiguity shall be interpreted to preserve human life, including the life of an unborn child if the qualified patient is pregnant and an obstetrician who examines the woman determines that the probable postfertilization age of the unborn child is twenty or more weeks and the pregnant woman's life can reasonably be maintained in such a way as to permit the continuing development and live birth of the unborn child, and such determination is communicated to the relevant classes of family members and persons designated in R.S. 40:1151.4.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 40, § 1151.9. General application - last updated January 01, 2023 | https://codes.findlaw.com/la/revised-statutes/la-rev-stat-tit-40-sect-1151-9/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)