The Texas Futile Care Act

Since a lot of people seem to be searching for it today, I will link to the Texas Futile Care Act of 1999, signed into law by then-Governor George W. Bush. Read it and see if you agree that it is the antithesis of the current GOP argument.

Comments

[Kevin L. Connors]

I just looked that over, briefly. And it appears to me that the statute only provides for what is in effect a living will.

Kevin L. Connors, editor
The Daily Brief

[Rachel]

Appears you didn't read far enough, Kevin. In addition to provding a legal framework for living wills, the bill allows life support to be terminated in the absence of one or even despite one. This clear language is snipped from the patient/family handout included in the Health & Safety Code chapter 166 (the Advance Directives Act):

3. The patient will continue to be given life-sustaining treatment until he or she can be transferred to a willing provider for up to 10 days from the time you were given the committee's written decision that life-sustaining treatment is not appropriate. 4. If a transfer can be arranged, the patient will be responsible for the costs of the transfer. 5. If a provider cannot be found willing to give the requested treatment within 10 days, life-sustaining treatment may be withdrawn unless a court of law has granted an extension.

But the "Futile Care Act" is a misnomer, however accurate it seems to be. The real name of the law is the Texas Advance Directives Act.