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§ 5-610. Obstruction of advance directive prohibited

West's Annotated Code of MarylandHealth--General

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Health--General
Title 5. Death (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 6. Health Care Decisions Act (Refs & Annos)
Part I. Advance Directives (Refs & Annos)
MD Code, Health - General, § 5-610
§ 5-610. Obstruction of advance directive prohibited
Life-sustaining procedures in contravention to patient’s consent
(a) Any person who willfully conceals, cancels, defaces, obliterates, or damages the advance directive of another without the declarant's or patient's consent or who falsifies or forges a revocation of the advance directive of another, thereby causing life-sustaining procedures to be utilized in contravention of the previously expressed intent of the patient, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both.
Withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures
(b) Any person who falsifies or forges the advance directive of another, or falsifies or forges an affidavit under § 5-605 of this subtitle, or willfully conceals or withholds personal knowledge of the revocation of an advance directive with the intent to cause a withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures, contrary to the wishes of the declarant and thereby, because of such act, directly causes life-sustaining procedures to be withheld or withdrawn and death to be hastened, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or both.
Penalties
(c) The penalties provided in this section shall be in addition to any other penalties provided by law.

Credits

Added by Acts 1993, c. 372, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 1993.
MD Code, Health - General, § 5-610, MD HEALTH GEN § 5-610
Current with all legislation from the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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