Life-sustaining Treatment Policy Term Definition

Treatment that, based on reasonable medical judgment, sustains the life of a patient and without which the patient will die.  The term includes both life-sustaining medications, CPR and artificial life support, such as mechanical breathing machines, kidney dialysis treatment, and artificial nutrition and hydration.  The term does not include the administration of pain management medication or the performance of a medical procedure considered to be necessary to provide comfort care, or any other medical care provided to alleviate a patient's pain.