Kansas Senate OKs bill on life-sustaining care for children

TOPEKA – A bill making it harder for medical providers in Kansas to deny life-sustaining care to children has passed the state Senate.

The vote Tuesday was 36-4 on a measure that requires health care providers to have written permission from a parent or guardian to withhold life-sustaining care for patients younger than 18.

Health care facilities, nursing homes and physicians also would be required to honor requests from parents or guardians to disclose policies on life-sustaining care and providing care when it is deemed futile.

Supporters said the bill is designed to give parents a say in the care of their critically ill children. They said the measure is a response to cases in multiple states in which children did not receive life-sustaining care because medical personnel saw it as futile.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Kansas Senate OKs bill on life-sustaining care for children."