JHCE - Life with Dignity Orders

1. PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY

In very isolated situations, a child who is terminally ill may be enrolled and actively participating in a District school. Such a student may have a Life with Dignity Order (also known as a Do Not Resuscitate directive (DNR) or a Provider Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)) under Utah Code Ann. § 75-2a-106. A Life with Dignity Order may direct that life sustaining care be withheld or withdrawn from the student. This policy provides direction for the care of students who have Life with Dignity Orders.

2. DEFINITION

A Life with Dignity Order is an order prepared by a health care provider on a form approved by the Department of Health and in accordance with Utah law to determine the level of life sustaining care to be provided to the person to whom the order relates.

3. POLICY

Because Life with Dignity Orders impose no obligation on any individual, they shall not be honored by District employees. First aid and other life sustaining treatment shall be provided to any and all students in need of such assistance while under the control and/or supervision of the District. School employees shall not withhold life sustaining treatment such as first aid or CPR even if the student has a Life with Dignity Order directing that treatment be withheld. 

4. IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY

Consistent with Utah Code Ann. § 75-2a-106, medical service providers may not be held civilly or criminally liable, nor may they be subject to disciplinary action for unprofessional conduct, for either complying or not complying with a Life with Dignity Order. Therefore, medical service providers such as school nurses should provide life sustaining treatment when necessary. 

5. PROCEDURE

When an employee becomes aware that a student has a Life with Dignity Order, the employee should notify the school nurse assigned to the student’s school. 

A school nurse who is aware of a student’s Life with Dignity Order shall obtain a copy of the order. A school nurse shall consider the contents of a Life with Dignity Order in the development of a student’s health care plan. If certain life sustaining procedures would cause injury or pain to a student, the health care plan may indicate that those procedures should be withheld. 

When a school employee or volunteer observes or becomes aware of a medical emergency involving a student who has a Life with Dignity Order, normal responsive actions should be taken, including the summoning of emergency medical personnel and administering first aid and CPR. School personnel should inform emergency medical personnel that the student has a Life with Dignity Order.