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SF 4358

Informed consent for medical treatment provided to an unconscious patient by a student or medical resident provision

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Karin Housley and 1 co-sponsor

Requires explicit informed consent from patients or guardians before students or residents provide medical treatment to unconscious patients, giving patients advance control over who treats them.

Referred to Health and Human Services
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Bill Summary · SF 4358

Legislative bill overview

SF 4358 requires that patients or their authorized representatives provide explicit informed consent before students or medical residents perform medical treatment on unconscious patients. The bill establishes a new consent requirement that applies specifically when teaching or training medical personnel are involved in treating patients who cannot communicate their preferences.

Why is this important

This addresses a real gap in patient autonomy: unconscious patients cannot consent in real-time, yet current law may not clearly require prior consent for student or resident involvement in their care. The bill ensures patients have advance control over who provides their medical treatment during vulnerable moments when they cannot advocate for themselves.

Potential points of contention

  • Clinical practicality concerns: Emergency situations may require immediate treatment before consent can be obtained; the bill's applicability to true emergencies needs clarification to avoid delaying critical care
  • Training program impacts: Medical residents are essential to healthcare delivery and training—overly restrictive consent requirements could limit necessary hands-on education or create documentation burdens that slow care
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill may need clearer language about what constitutes "treatment" versus supervised observation, and how it applies to different medical settings (teaching hospitals, rural facilities, emergency departments)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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