Missouri Laws 459.055 – Purposes of declaration
Sections 459.010 to 459.055 shall be interpreted consistent with the following:
(1) Each person has the primary right to request or refuse medical treatment subject to the state‘s interest in protecting innocent third parties, preventing homicide and suicide and preserving good ethical standards in the medical profession.
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 459.055
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
(2) Nothing in sections 459.010 to 459.055 shall be interpreted to increase or decrease the right of a patient to make decisions regarding use of medical procedures so long as the patient is able to do so, nor to impair or supersede any right or responsibility that any person has to effect the withholding or withdrawal of medical care in any lawful manner. In that respect, the provisions of sections 459.010 to 459.055 are cumulative.
(3) Sections 459.010 to 459.055 shall create no presumption concerning the intention of an individual who has not executed a declaration to consent to the use or withholding of medical procedures.
(4) Communication regarding treatment decisions among patients, the families and physicians is encouraged.
(5) Sections 459.010 to 459.055 do not condone, authorize or approve mercy killing or euthanasia nor permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to shorten or end life.