Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill on Friday prohibiting doctors from initiating a “do not resuscitate” order for a minor child without the consent of the child’s parents.
Known as “Simon’s law,” the bill was introduced at the behest of the parents of a Missouri boy who died three days after being born with a chromosomal disorder that is usually fatal.
Scott Crosier says neither he nor his wife were told that a DNR order had been entered on their son’s chart.
“This type of injustice, where unilateral DNRs are being placed in charts, is on the rise and it needs to stop and every other state needs to get on board,” Crosier says.
Passing the law was a top priority for Kansans for Life, the state’s largest anti-abortion organization.
The Crosiers say they hope getting the law on the books in Kansas will spur Missouri lawmakers to act on a similar bill.
