More Simon's Laws Bills Prohibit Unilateral Orders to Stop Life-Sustaining Treatment

Simon's Laws say “NO: No child’s medical chart should have a do not resuscitate order (DNR) and/or the withholding of life sustaining treatments without parental knowledge or consent." More than a dozen states have already enacted such laws. 

Legislation recently introduced in Indiana articulates a rather strong form. H,B. 1336 requires that a "health care provider may not issue a do not resuscitate order or otherwise withhold or withdraw treatment that would allow the natural death of a minor unless the health care provider has received the consent of each parent or each legal guardian of the minor. Consent by each parent or each legal guardian must be given orally and in writing to the health care provider."  

Today, clinicians can often get a court-appointed guardian, establishing that comfort measures only are in the patient's best interest. But the bill further provides that :a court does not have jurisdiction to withdraw life sustaining procedures from a minor over the objection of a parent or legal guardian."