Iowa Code § 144D.4 — IA Code / Title IV / Chapter 144D / Section 144D.4
General provisions.
Status: in_force

(1) If an individual is a qualified patient as defined in section 144A.2, the individual’s declaration executed under chapter 144A shall control health care decision making for the individual in accordance with chapter 144A. If an individual has not executed a declaration pursuant to chapter 144A, health care decision making relating to life-sustaining procedures for the individual shall be governed by section 144A.7. A POST form shall not supersede a declaration executed pursuant to chapter 144A.

(2) If an individual has executed a durable power of attorney for health care pursuant to chapter 144B, the individual’s durable power of attorney for health care shall control health care decision making for the individual in accordance with chapter 144B. A POST form shall not supersede a durable power of attorney for health care executed pursuant to chapter 144B.

(3) If the individual’s physician or physician assistant has issued an out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order pursuant to section 144A.7A, the POST form shall not supersede the out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate order.

(4) Death resulting from the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures pursuant to an executed POST form and in accordance with this chapter does not, for any purpose, constitute a suicide, homicide, or dependent adult abuse.

(5) The executing of a POST form does not affect in any manner the sale, procurement, or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor shall it be deemed to modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance. A policy of life insurance is not legally impaired or invalidated in any manner by the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures pursuant to this chapter notwithstanding any term of the policy to the contrary.

(6) A health care provider, hospital, health care facility, health care service plan, insurer issuing disability insurance, self-insured employee welfare benefit plan, or nonprofit hospital plan shall not require any person to execute a POST form as a condition of being insured for, or receiving, health care services.

(7) This chapter does not create a presumption concerning the intention of an individual who has not executed a POST form with respect to the use, withholding, or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures in the event of a terminal condition.

(8) This chapter shall not be interpreted to affect the right of an individual to make decisions regarding use of life-sustaining procedures as long as the individual is able to do so, nor to impair or supersede any right or responsibility that any person has to effect the withholding or withdrawal of medical care in any lawful manner. In that respect, the provisions of this chapter are cumulative.

(9) This chapter shall not be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia, or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying.

(10) A POST form executed between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2012, as part of the patient autonomy in health care decisions pilot project created pursuant to 2008 Iowa Acts, ch. 1188, §36, as amended by 2010 Iowa Acts, ch. 1192, §58, shall remain effective until revoked or until a new POST form is executed pursuant to this chapter.

2012 Acts, ch 1008, §5; 2012 Acts, ch 1133, §95; 2014 Acts, ch 1026, §143; 2022 Acts, ch 1066, §19