4.27.4 Life Support Systems

Introduction

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Practice Guidance

  • ​f the child is under emergency custody or temporary custody, the court may give verbal approval for the use of life support systems and the approval may be transmitted by the court or by the SSW on behalf of the court. If the child is under voluntary commitment, it is the parent’s responsibility to make a decision regarding the use of life support systems for the child.

Procedure

The SSW:

  1. Or other Cabinet representative informs the hospital personnel of their responsibility to do all that is within their power to sustain a child’s life when a child in OOHC is admitted to the hospital in an emergency and life support systems may be needed; 1 
  2. Immediately notifies the parents, the court, and through supervisory channels, the SRA and Director of the Division of Protection and Permanency; 
  3. Facilitates transmission of a letter to the hospital administrator, by the most expedient method, containing the following information, if the child is under emergency custody or temporary custody: 
    • A confirmation of the Cabinet’s standard of practice to advocate use of life support systems; 
    • A certified copy of the custody order; 
  4. Facilitates transmission of a letter to the hospital administrator, by the most expedient method, containing the following information, if the child is committed and parental rights have been terminated: 
    • A conformation of the Cabinet’s standard of practice to advocate use of life support systems; and 
    • A certified copy of the terminated order making a child a ward of the Cabinet; 
  5. Completes the following steps regarding a child under voluntary commitment, only if the parent cannot be notified: 
    • Sends a letter to the parent in order to confirm the Cabinet’s standard of practice regarding the use life support systems; and 
    • Facilitates transmission of a letter to the hospital administrator, by the most expedient method containing the following information: 
      • A confirmation of the Cabinet’s standard of practice to advocate the use of life support systems; 
      • A certified copy of the voluntary commitment order; and 
      • A notarized statement documenting the Cabinet’s efforts to locate the parent.

Footnotes​

  1. The Cabinet will promote provision of life sustaining treatment, by whatever means, until a decision is made by the appropriate party to extend or end treatment.

Revisions