Maryland - following California on Mandatory EOL Disclosures

In January, Maryland took a step toward following California in enacting a law mandating certain disclosures concerning end-of-life treatment options. H.B. 30 would amend the state's Health Care Decisions Act to add a section on "Terminal Condition Care Counseling."

"When a patient is diagnosed with a terminal condition, the Physician or surgeon making the diagnosis shall inform the patient that the patient may receive counseling regarding terminal condition care options that are available under the law."

The counseling must include:

• Options regarding hospice care at home or in a Health care setting
  
• The right of the patient to refuse or withdraw from any life–sustaining procedure
• The right of the patient to continue to pursue curative treatment
• The right of the patient to receive comprehensive pain and symptom management at the end of life, including adequate pain medication, palliative chemotherapy, and other clinical treatments useful when a patient has a terminal condition
• The right of the patient to make a living will or advance directive
  

The counseling may also include:

• Discussions about the outcomes for the patient and the patient’s family, based on the interests of the patient
• A discussion of benefits and burdens of treatment options in a manner that the patient and the patient’s family can easily understand
• Information from organizations specializing in terminal condition care that provide information on fact sheets and internet websites to convey the information