Alaska Statutes §§ 13.52.050–.060 Health Care Decisions

Under Alaska Statutes §§ 13.52.050–.060, the state restricts certain health care decisions by agents or surrogates and imposes obligations on providers and institutions. Section 13.52.050 prohibits an agent or surrogate from consenting to procedures classified as exceptional, such as abortion, sterilization, or psychosurgery, except when the patient’s own express instruction permits. Section 13.52.055 addresses pregnant patients lacking decision‑making capacity: any directive or surrogate decision to withhold life‑sustaining treatment is ineffective if withholding likely leads to the pregnant patient's death and the fetus has a reasonable probability of developing to birth under continued intervention. Section 13.52.060 requires that before executing a health care decision, providers and institutions review whether it is consistent with all applicable individual instructions, generally accepted standards, and whether it is medically ineffective; they may refuse compliance for conscientious objection or conflicting institutional policy, but must notify the patient or authorized decision‑maker, continue care during transfer, and facilitate transfer when requested.