We've had the privilege of enacting three Next of Kin Laws in two
states -- California and
Illinois.
Here is a bit about
each
law...
California NOK Law for Hospitals
The California Next of Kin Law, authored by Senator Jackie Speier
and co-authored by
Assemblymember Carol Liu,
went
into effect on January 1,
2002.
The law (see text
below), is now a part of the
Chapter 329 2001 Statutes,
Chapter 12 (commencing with
Section 1795) to Division 2
of the Health and Safety
Code, relating to care
facilities Sec. 25.
Surrogate Decision making.
California NOK Law/Nursing Homes
On February 15th 2002, Assemblymember Carol Liu (D-Pasadena)
introduced a second Next of
Kin Bill, aimed at the
protection of patients in
nursing homes and long-term
residential care facilities.
Senator Jackie
Speier, author of the
original California Next of
Kin Bill, is the bill's
principal co-author.
On August 12th, the bill passed its final vote unanimously, which
means that the bill passed
every committee and floor
vote
unanimously in both houses.
On August 28th,
Governor Davis signed the
bill into law.
The law, now a part
of Chapter 272 California
Statutes, took effect on
January 1, 2003.
Under the bill, nursing homes and residential health facilities
will have to notify the
families or patient's
contact within
twenty-four hours if the
patient's condition becomes
unstable or critical.
The bill answers the
frustrations and pain of
many California families
who's loved ones passed away
or faced medical crisis
alone, because of a delay in
family notification. It can
be found in
Chapter 12 (commencing with
Section 1795) to Division 2
of the California Health and
Safety Code, relating to
care facilities.
Illinois
Governor George Ryan Signs Illinois NOK Bill Into Law
The place, the Governor's Suite at Chicago's State of Illinois
Building.
The date
December 13, 2001.
The event,
Governor
George Ryan's
official photo
signing of the
Next of Kin
Law (see text
below)!
Above, the
Governor with Laura
and Janet Greenwald
(l to r), the
family, motivating
force and
mother/daughter
writing team behind
the bills.
The law, authored by Senator John Cullerton and Representative Sara
Feigenholtz appears
in Illinois Public
Act 92-0364,
755 ILCS 40/25 from
Ch. 110 1/2, par.
851-25 and went into
effect in August of
2001.