A Minnesota bill would require hospitals to disclose the policies under which they can withhold medical treatments if the care could be a "waste" of medical resources, according to a St. Paul Pioneer Press report.
Republican Senator Sean Nienow introduced the bill, saying he wants hospitals to tell parents about their futility policy, as it's called, when they are caring for terminally ill children. Futility policies call on medical professionals to halt patients' treatment either on the grounds of medical futility or when discontinuing treatment would result in a financial benefit to the hospital, according to the bill and news report.
Although they're not unheard of, the number of hospitals with these policies remains unknown, according to a spokesperson from the Minnesota Hospital Associated cited in the report. The spokesperson said no futility policy says anything about withholding care for financial reasons, however, but rather serves as a "road map" to make difficult decisions about end-of-life care.
A Senate committee is scheduled to hear the bill today.
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Republican Senator Sean Nienow introduced the bill, saying he wants hospitals to tell parents about their futility policy, as it's called, when they are caring for terminally ill children. Futility policies call on medical professionals to halt patients' treatment either on the grounds of medical futility or when discontinuing treatment would result in a financial benefit to the hospital, according to the bill and news report.
Although they're not unheard of, the number of hospitals with these policies remains unknown, according to a spokesperson from the Minnesota Hospital Associated cited in the report. The spokesperson said no futility policy says anything about withholding care for financial reasons, however, but rather serves as a "road map" to make difficult decisions about end-of-life care.
A Senate committee is scheduled to hear the bill today.
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