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Patient Rights Act

Introduced: June 26, 2019 Introduced by: Cramer, Kevin Republican · North Dakota See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 26, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jun 26, 2019
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Patient Rights Act

This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for health care services unless the entity receiving the funds certifies to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the entity respects all human life.

Specifically, the entity must ensure that health care practitioners employed by or affiliated with the entity (1) exercise the same degree of professional skill and diligence to preserve the life and health of any patient as a conscientious health care practitioner would render to a patient in a different state of functionality, including patients in specified categories (e.g., terminally ill patients, elderly patients, and the unborn); (2) do not intentionally end the life of, or otherwise harm, any patient; and (3) do not institute a do-not-resuscitate or similar order without obtaining specified informed consent.

In addition, HHS must (1) establish a public database that indicates whether an entity is in compliance, and (2) periodically review entities to ensure compliance. The Department of Justice or a person adversely affected may bring a civil action for violations.

What's happening now June 26, 2019

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1993: Patient Rights Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1993/
MLA
"S. 1993: Patient Rights Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1993/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1993, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1993/.
Markdown link
[S. 1993: Patient Rights Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1993/)
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