CHAPTER 4. Duties of Health Care Providers [4730. - 4736.]

Cal. Probate Code - PROB 4.

in effect

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 4730. Section 4730.

Before implementing a health care decision made for a patient, a supervising health care provider, if possible, shall promptly communicate to the patient the decision made and the identity of the person making the decision.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 4731. Section 4731.

(a) A supervising health care provider who knows of the existence of an advance health care directive, a revocation of an advance health care directive, or a designation or disqualification of a surrogate, shall promptly record its existence in the patient’s health care record and, if it is in writing, shall request a copy. If a copy is furnished, the supervising health care provider shall arrange for its maintenance in the patient’s health care record. (b) A supervising health care provider who knows of a revocation of a power of attorney for health care or a disqualification of a surrogate shall make a reasonable effort to notify the agent or surrogate of the revocation or disqualification.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 4732. Section 4732.

A primary physician who makes or is informed of a determination that a patient lacks or has recovered capacity, or that another condition exists affecting an individual health care instruction or the authority of an agent, conservator of the person, or surrogate, shall promptly record the determination in the patient’s health care record and communicate the determination to the patient, if possible, and to a person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 4733. Section 4733.

Except as provided in Sections 4734 and 4735, a health care provider or health care institution providing care to a patient shall do the following: (a) Comply with an individual health care instruction of the patient and with a reasonable interpretation of that instruction made by a person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient. (b) Comply with a health care decision for the patient made by a person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient to the same extent as if the decision had been made by the patient while having capacity.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 4734. Section 4734.

(a) A health care provider may decline to comply with an individual health care instruction or health care decision for reasons of conscience. (b) A health care institution may decline to comply with an individual health care instruction or health care decision if the instruction or decision is contrary to a policy of the institution that is expressly based on reasons of conscience and if the policy was timely communicated to the patient or to a person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 4735. Section 4735.

A health care provider or health care institution may decline to comply with an individual health care instruction or health care decision that requires medically ineffective health care or health care contrary to generally accepted health care standards applicable to the health care provider or institution.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 4736. Section 4736.

A health care provider or health care institution that declines to comply with an individual health care instruction or health care decision shall do all of the following: (a) Promptly so inform the patient, if possible, and any person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient. (b) Unless the patient or person then authorized to make health care decisions for the patient refuses assistance, immediately make all reasonable efforts to assist in the transfer of the patient to another health care provider or institution that is willing to comply with the instruction or decision. (c) Provide continuing care to the patient until a transfer can be accomplished or until it appears that a transfer cannot be accomplished. In all cases, appropriate pain relief and other palliative care shall be continued.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026