(a) A written out-of-hospital DNR order shall be in the standard form specified by department rule as recommended by the department.
(b) The standard form of an out-of-hospital DNR order specified by department rule must, at a minimum, contain the following:
(1) a distinctive single-page format that readily identifies the document as an out-of-hospital DNR order;
(2) a title that readily identifies the document as an out-of-hospital DNR order;
(3) the printed or typed name of the person;
(4) a statement that the physician signing the document is the attending physician of the person and that the physician is directing health care professionals acting in out-of-hospital settings, including a hospital emergency department, not to initiate or continue certain life-sustaining treatment on behalf of the person, and a listing of those procedures not to be initiated or continued;
(5) a statement that the person understands that the person may revoke the out-of-hospital DNR order at any time by destroying the order and removing the DNR identification device, if any, or by communicating to health care professionals at the scene the person’s desire to revoke the out-of-hospital DNR order;
(6) places for the printed names and signatures of the witnesses or the notary public’s acknowledgment and for the printed name and signature of the attending physician of the person and the medical license number of the attending physician;
(7) a separate section for execution of the document by the legal guardian of the person, the person’s proxy, an agent of the person having a medical power of attorney, or the attending physician attesting to the issuance of an out-of-hospital DNR order by nonwritten means of communication or acting in accordance with a previously executed or previously issued directive to physicians under § 166.082(c) that includes the following:
(A) a statement that the legal guardian, the proxy, the agent, the person by nonwritten means of communication, or the physician directs that each listed life-sustaining treatment should not be initiated or continued in behalf of the person; and
(B) places for the printed names and signatures of the witnesses and, as applicable, the legal guardian, proxy, agent, or physician;
(8) a separate section for execution of the document by at least one qualified relative of the person when the person does not have a legal guardian, proxy, or agent having a medical power of attorney and is incompetent or otherwise mentally or physically incapable of communication, including:
(A) a statement that the relative of the person is qualified to make a treatment decision to withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation and certain other designated life-sustaining treatment under § 166.088 and, based on the known desires of the person or a determination of the best interest of the person, directs that each listed life-sustaining treatment should not be initiated or continued in behalf of the person; and
(B) places for the printed names and signatures of the witnesses and qualified relative of the person;
(9) a place for entry of the date of execution of the document;
(10) a statement that the document is in effect on the date of its execution and remains in effect until the death of the person or until the document is revoked;
(11) a statement that the document must accompany the person during transport;
(12) a statement regarding the proper disposition of the document or copies of the document, as the executive commissioner determines appropriate; and
(13) a statement at the bottom of the document, with places for the signature of each person executing the document, that the document has been properly completed.

Terms Used In Texas Health and Safety Code 166.083

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Signature: includes the mark of a person unable to write, and "subscribe" includes the making of such a mark. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(c) The executive commissioner may, by rule and as recommended by the department, modify the standard form of the out-of-hospital DNR order described by Subsection (b) in order to accomplish the purposes of this subchapter.
(d) A photocopy or other complete facsimile of the original written out-of-hospital DNR order executed under this subchapter may be used for any purpose for which the original written order may be used under this subchapter.

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