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Life Sustaining Care Act Passes Louisiana House of Representatives

Apr 27, 2022

BATON ROUGE – Yesterday, the Life Sustaining Care Act, HB 459 (Rep. Charles Owen), passed the Louisiana House of Representatives overwhelmingly in a 92 to 3 vote. The legislation prevents hospitals or other health care facilities from withdrawing life-sustaining care against a patient’s or legal guardian’s will.

The legislation is in response to cases around the world where hospitals have adopted “futile care theory,” allowing them to unilaterally withhold medical treatment because they believe that a patient’s quality of life is not worth continuing or it is simply not cost effective. 

“We are always working to protect the most vulnerable, including the elderly and disabled,” Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director for Louisiana Right to Life. “HB 459 ensures that Louisiana citizens have the right to save their own life or the lives of their loved ones. We are thankful to Rep. Owen for authoring this important legislation.”

Categories: State Legislation
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