End of Medical Futility Laws in Texas, Virginia, and California

A bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would preempt medical futility laws in Texas, Virginia, and California. State laws in those jurisdictions currently permit clinicians to stop life-sustaining treatment even when desired by the patient or the patient's family.

In contrast, S. 1993 prohibits "the withholding or withdrawing of life-saving or life-sustaining medical treatment or medical care" unless "after informed consent has been provided by . . . the patient . . . or an individual authorized to make health care decisions on behalf of . . . the patient."