Missouri legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Missouri HB2464: Establishes the "Missouri Terminally Ill Patient Dignity and Care Act"
Status: In committee, May 15, 2026
What the bill says
To amend chapter 197, RSMo, by adding thereto seven new sections relating to the care of terminally ill patients in hospitals, with a delayed effective date and penalty provisions. Section A. Chapter 197, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto seven new sections, to be known as sections 197.1060, 197.1063, 197.1066, 197.1069, 197.1072, 197.1075, and 197.1078, to read as follows: 197.1060. Sections 197.1060 to 197.1078 shall be known and may be cited as the "Missouri Terminally Ill Patient Dignity and Care Act". 197.1063. As used in sections 197.1060 to 197.1078, the following terms mean: (1) "Hosp.
From the introduced text:
To amend chapter 197, RSMo, by adding thereto seven new sections relating to the care of terminally ill patients in hospitals, with a delayed effective date and penalty provisions. Section A. Chapter 197, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto seven new sections, to be known as sections 197.1060, 197.1063, 197.1066, 197.1069, 197.1072, 197.1075, and 197.1078, to read as follows: 197.1060. Sections 197.1060 to 197.1078 shall be known and may be cited as the "Missouri Terminally Ill Patient Dignity and Care Act". 197.1063. As used in sections 197.1060 to 197.1078, the following terms mean: (1) "Hospital", any institution licensed under this chapter that provides inpatient care; (2) "Neglect": (a) Failure of a hospital or its staff to provide timely, appropriate, and adequate care necessary to relieve pain or other distressing symptoms; (b) Failure to respond within a medically appropriate period to a patient's or family's call for assistance or relief of suffering; or (c) Abandonment of a patient without reasonable oversight while the patient is in pain or distress; (3) "Terminally ill patient", a patient who has a condition that reasonably can be expected to result in death within six months as certified in writing by a licensed physician. EXPLANATION -- Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from …