Your health care directive is a binding legal document. Your medical staff has a duty to follow it, even if that means transferring you to another health care provider. Tennessee statutes provide a procedure for health care providers to follow in case they are unwilling to carry out the wishes in your health care directive. They must notify you, your next of kin, or your legal guardian that they refuse to comply with your expressed wishes. They then must give the option of transferring you to another physician who is willing to comply with your instructions.
If your doctor or other health care professionals do not follow the above procedure, they will be risking civil liability and disciplinary action. They could even lose their medical licenses as a result.