26:2H-78. Violations, penalties

28. a. A health care professional who intentionally fails to act in accordance with the requirements of this act is subject to discipline for professional misconduct pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-21).

b. A health care institution that intentionally fails to act in accordance with the requirements of this act shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense. For the purposes of this subsection, each violation shall constitute a separate offense. Penalties for violations of this act shall be recovered in a summary civil proceeding, brought in the name of the State in a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to "the penalty enforcement law" (N.J.S.2A:58-1 et seq.).

c. The following acts constitute crimes:

(1) To willfully conceal, cancel, deface, obliterate or withhold personal knowledge of an advance directive or a modification or revocation thereof, without the declarant's consent, is a crime of the fourth degree.

(2) To falsify or forge an advance directive or a modification or revocation thereof of another individual is a crime of the fourth degree.

(3) To coerce or fraudulently induce the execution of an advance directive or a modification or revocation thereof is a crime of the fourth degree.

(4) To require or prohibit the execution of an advance directive or a modification or revocation thereof as a condition of coverage under any policy of health insurance, life insurance or annuity, or governmental benefits program, or as a condition of the provision of health care is a crime of the fourth degree.

d. Commission of any of the acts identified in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of subsection c., resulting in the involuntary earlier death of a patient, shall constitute a crime of the fourth degree.

e. The sanctions provided in this section shall not be construed to repeal any sanctions applicable under other law.

L.1991,c.201,s.28.