SB1509

THE CONTEXT: A physician is a Doctor of Medicine who is licensed under the Arizona Medical Board ( A. R.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would requires, except in an emergency, informed consent for a surgical procedure obtained by a licensed physician, NP or PA to include the following dated signatures as required by the health care facility's policies, if applicable: a) the health professional performing the surgical procedure; b) the patient or the patient's surrogate decision maker; and c) a witness and require a witness to verify on the document that the patient or the patient's surrogate decision maker directly indicated to the witness that the patient intended to consent to the surgical procedure if a patient or patient's surrogate decision maker is physically unable to sign or mark an informed consent.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to give patients a defined set of rights and a clear informed-consent standard. It would requires, except in an emergency, informed consent for a surgical procedure obtained by a licensed physician, NP or PA to include the following dated signatures as required by the health care facility's policies, if applicable: a) the health professional performing the surgical procedure; b) the patient or the patient's surrogate decision maker; and c) a witness, and would also require a witness to verify on the document that the patient or the patient's surrogate decision maker directly indicated to the witness that the patient intended to consent to the surgical procedure if a patient or patient's surrogate decision maker is physically unable to sign or mark an informed consent, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.