OAR 847-010-0110: Physicians and Physician Associates to Honor Life-Sustaining Treatment Orders

(1) A physician or physician associate licensed pursuant to ORS Chapter 677 shall respect the patient’s wishes including life-sustaining treatments. Consistent with the requirements of ORS Chapter 127, a physician or physician associate shall respect and honor life-sustaining treatment orders executed by a physician, physician associate or nurse practitioner. The fact that a physician, physician associate or nurse practitioner who executed a life-sustaining treatment order does not have admitting privileges at a hospital or health care facility where the patient is being treated does not remove the obligation under this section to honor the order. In keeping with ORS Chapter 127, a physician or physician associate shall not be subject to criminal prosecution, civil liability or professional discipline. (2) Should new information on the health of the patient become available the goals of treatment may change. Following discussion with the patient, or if incapable their surrogate, new orders regarding life-sustaining treatment should be written, dated and signed.