Whereas, there are currently discrepancies among emergency medical responders regarding the treatment of "do not resuscitate" orders in advance health-care directives; and

Whereas, it is necessary that these discrepancies be eliminated as quickly as possible to ensure that the wishes of a person, as stated in that person's advance health-care directive, be complied with; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §86, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 182, §11, is further amended to read:

2-A. Treatment to be in accord with regional medical orders and directive. When an ambulance service or nontransporting emergency medical service is present at an accident or other situation in which a person or persons require emergency medical treatment, the medical treatment of the patients must be carried out in accordance with any rules adopted under this chapter, any protocols as defined in section 83, subsection 19 and any verbal orders given under the system of delegation established by the regional medical director; except that:

A. When a patient is already under the supervision of a personal physician or a physician's assistant or nurse practitioner supervised by that physician and the physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner assumes the care of the patient, then for as long as the physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner remains with the patient, the patient must be cared for as the physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner directs. The emergency medical services persons shall assist to the extent that their licenses and protocol allow; and

B. A patient is not required to accept treatment to which the patient does not consent. ; and

C.__If a patient has an advance health-care directive, as defined in Title 18-A, section 5-801, subsection (a), that