Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-573 (2026)

Comfort care and pain alleviation to be provided. Documents executed prior to October 1, 1991

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 19a-571, 19a-572, 19a-575, 19a-575a, 19a-577, 19a-580a and 19a-580b, comfort care and pain alleviation shall be provided in all cases.

(b) Any document executed prior to October 1, 1991, in accordance with section 19a-575, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1991, and section 19a-575a shall not be invalidated by any provision of public act 91-283*. Any document executed prior to October 1, 1991, shall not be presumed to prohibit withholding or withdrawal of life support systems as defined in section 19a-570, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1991, unless such prior document specifically addresses such withholding or withdrawal.

(P.A. 85-606, S. 4; P.A. 91-283, S. 4; P.A. 93-407, S. 7; P.A. 18-11, S. 3.)

*Note: Public act 91-283 is entitled “An Act Concerning Living Wills”. (See Reference Table captioned “Public Acts of 1991” in Volume 16 which lists the sections amended, created or repealed by the act.)

History: P.A. 91-283 added provision re validity of document executed prior to October 1, 1991, and presumption re withholding or withdrawal of life support systems; P.A. 93-407 added references to Sec. 19a-575a; P.A. 18-11 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to Sec. 19a-574, effective May 24, 2018.

Cited. 209 C. 692.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case, 1989–1989 · leading case: McConnell v. Beverly Enter.-Connecticut, Inc., 553 A.2d 596 (Conn. 1989).
McConnell v. Beverly Enter.-Connecticut, Inc., 553 A.2d 596 (Conn. 1989). · cites it 4× “General Statutes § 19a-571. Third, even the removal of life sustaining technology must be done in a manner consistent with providing “comfort care and pain alleviation” for the patient.”
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