Iowa Code 144A.9 – Immunities
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1. In the absence of actual notice of the revocation of a declaration or of an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order, the following, while acting in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, are not subject to civil or criminal liability or guilty of unprofessional conduct:
a. A physician who causes the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures from a qualified patient.
b. The health care provider in which such withholding or withdrawal occurs.
c. A person who participates in the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures under the direction of or with the authorization of a physician.
Terms Used In Iowa Code 144A.9
- Declaration: means a document executed in accordance with the requirements of section 144A. See Iowa Code 144A.2
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Health care provider: means a person, including an emergency medical care provider, who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized or permitted by the law of this state to administer health care in the ordinary course of business or in the practice of a profession. See Iowa Code 144A.2
- Out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order: means a written order signed by a physician, executed in accordance with the requirements of section 144A. See Iowa Code 144A.2
- Person: means a natural person. See Iowa Code 154A.1
- Physician: means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in this state. See Iowa Code 144A.2
- Qualified patient: means a patient who has executed a declaration or an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order in accordance with this chapter and who has been determined by the attending physician to be in a terminal condition. See Iowa Code 144A.2
2. A physician is not subject to civil or criminal liability for actions under this chapter which are in accord with reasonable medical standards.
3. Any person, institution or facility against whom criminal or civil liability is asserted because of conduct in compliance with this chapter may interpose this chapter as an absolute defense.
4. In the absence of actual notice of the revocation of an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order, a health care provider who complies with this chapter is not subject to civil or criminal liability or guilty of unprofessional conduct in entering, executing, or otherwise participating in an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order.