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2009 SESSION
094048248Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 37.2-801, 37.2-1009, 54.1-2984 and 54.1-2986 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted, and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 37.2 a section numbered 37.2-805.1 as follows:
§ 37.2-801. Admission procedures; forms.
A. Any person alleged to have a mental illness to a degree that warrants treatment in a facility may be admitted to a facility by compliance with one of the following admission procedures:
1. Voluntary admission by the procedure
described in § 37.2-805, or;
2. Admission of incapacitated persons pursuant to § 37.2-805.1; or
23.
Involuntary admission by the procedure described in §§ 37.2-809 through
37.2-820.
B. The Board shall prescribe and the Department shall prepare the forms required in procedures for admission. These forms, which shall be the legal forms used in admissions, shall be approved by the Attorney General and distributed by the Department to the clerks of the general district courts and juvenile and domestic relations district courts of the Commonwealth and to the directors of the state facilities.
§ 37.2-805.1. Admission of incapacitated persons pursuant to advance directives or by guardians.
A. An agent for a person who has been determined to be incapable of making an informed decision may consent to the person's admission to a facility for no more than 10 calendar days if (i) prior to admission, a physician on the staff of or designated by the proposed admitting facility examines the person and states, in writing, that the person (a) has a mental illness, (b) is incapable of making an informed decision regarding admission, and (c) is in need of treatment in a facility; (ii) the proposed admitting facility is willing to admit the person; (iii) the person has executed an advance directive in accordance with the Health Care Decisions Act (§ 54.1-2981 et seq.) authorizing his agent to consent to his admission to a facility; and (iv) the person does not object to such admission. In addition, for admission to a state facility, the person shall first be screened by the community services board that serves the city or county where the person resides or, if impractical, where the person is located.
B. A guardian who has been appointed for an incapacitated person pursuant to Chapter 10 (§ 37.2-1000 et seq.) may consent to admission of that person to a facility for no more than 10 calendar days if (i) prior to admission, a physician on the staff of or designated by the proposed admitting facility examines the person and states, in writing, that the person (a) has a mental illness, (b) is incapable of making an informed decision regarding admission, and (c) is in need of treatment in a facility; (ii) the proposed admitting facility is willing to admit the person; and (iii) the guardianship order specifically authorizes the guardian to consent to the admission of such person to a facility, pursuant to § 37.2-1009. In addition, for admission to a state facility, the person shall first be screened by the community services board that serves the city or county where the person resides or, if impractical, where the person is located.
C. A person admitted to a facility pursuant to this section shall be discharged no later than 10 calendar days after admission unless, within that time, the person's continued admission is authorized under other provisions of law.
§ 37.2-1009. Court order of appointment; limited guardianships and conservatorships.
The court's order appointing a guardian or conservator shall: (i) state the nature and extent of the person's incapacity; (ii) define the powers and duties of the guardian or conservator so as to permit the incapacitated person to care for himself and manage property to the extent he is capable; (iii) specify whether the appointment of a guardian or conservator is limited to a specified length of time, as the court in its discretion may determine; (iv) specify the legal disabilities, if any, of the person in connection with the finding of incapacity, including but not limited to mental competency for purposes of Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia or Title 24.2; (v) include any limitations deemed appropriate following consideration of the factors specified in § 37.2-1007; and (vi) set the bond of the guardian and the bond and surety, if any, of the conservator.
The court may appoint a limited guardian for an incapacitated person who is capable of addressing some of the essential requirements for his care for the limited purpose of medical decision making, decisions about place of residency, or other specific decisions regarding his personal affairs.
Unless the guardian has a professional relationship with the incapacitated person or is employed by or affiliated with a facility where the person resides, the court's order may authorize the guardian to consent to the admission of the person to a facility pursuant to § 37.2-805.1, upon finding by clear and convincing evidence that (i) the person has severe and persistent mental illness that significantly impairs the person's capacity to exercise judgment or self-control, as confirmed by the evaluation of a licensed psychiatrist; (ii) such condition is unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future; and (iii) the guardian has formulated a plan for providing ongoing treatment of the person's illness in the least restrictive setting suitable for the person's condition.
A guardian need not be appointed for a person who has appointed an agent under an advance directive executed in accordance with the provisions of Article 8 (§ 54.1-2981 et seq.) of Chapter 29 of Title 54.1, unless the court determines that the agent is not acting in accordance with the wishes of the principal or there is a need for decision making outside the purview of the advance directive.
The court may appoint a limited conservator for an incapacitated person who is capable of managing some of his property and financial affairs for limited purposes specified in the order.
A conservator need not be appointed for a person (i) who has appointed an agent under a durable power of attorney, unless the court determines pursuant to § 37.2-1018 that the agent is not acting in the best interests of the principal or there is a need for decision making outside the purview of the durable power of attorney or (ii) whose only or major source of income is from the Social Security Administration or other government program and who has a representative payee.
§ 54.1-2984. Suggested form of written advance directives.
An advance directive executed pursuant to this article may, but need not, be in the following form, and may (i) direct a specific procedure or treatment to be provided, such as artificially administered hydration and nutrition; (ii) direct a specific procedure or treatment to be withheld; or (iii) appoint an agent to make health care decisions for the declarant as specified in the advance directive if the declarant is determined to be incapable of making an informed decision, including the authorization to admit the declarant to a mental health facility pursuant to § 37.2-805.1 and the decision to make, after the declarant's death, an anatomical gift of all of the declarant's body or an organ, tissue or eye donation pursuant to Article 2 (§ 32.1-289.2 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 32.1 and in compliance with any directions of the declarant. Should any other specific directions be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the advance directive. If the declarant appoints an agent in an advance directive, that agent shall have the authority to make health care decisions for the declarant as specified in the advance directive if the declarant is determined to be incapable of making an informed decision and shall have decision-making priority over any individuals authorized under § 54.1-2986 to make health care decisions for the declarant. In no case shall the agent refuse or fail to honor the declarant's wishes in relation to anatomical gifts or organ, tissue or eye donation.
ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE
I, .........., willfully and voluntarily make known my desire and do hereby
declare:
If at any time my attending physician should determine that I have a terminal
condition where the application of life-prolonging procedures would serve only
to artificially prolong the dying process, I direct that such procedures be
withheld or withdrawn, and that I be permitted to die naturally with only the
administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure
deemed necessary to provide me with comfort care or to alleviate pain (OPTION:
I specifically direct that the following procedures or treatments be provided
to me: ....................)
In the absence of my ability to give directions regarding the use of such life-prolonging procedures, it is my intention that this advance directive shall be honored by my family and physician as the final expression of my legal right to refuse medical or surgical treatment and accept the consequences of such refusal.
OPTION: APPOINTMENT OF AGENT (CROSS THROUGH IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO APPOINT AN AGENT TO MAKE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR YOU.)
I hereby appoint ....... (primary agent), of ....... (address and telephone
number), as my agent to make health care decisions on my behalf as authorized
in this document. If ....... (primary agent) is not reasonably available or
is unable or unwilling to act as my agent, then I appoint ....... (successor
agent), of ....... (address and telephone number), to serve in that capacity.
I hereby grant to my agent, named above, full power and authority to make health care decisions on my behalf as described below whenever I have been determined to be incapable of making an informed decision about providing, withholding or withdrawing medical treatment. The phrase "incapable of making an informed decision" means unable to understand the nature, extent and probable consequences of a proposed medical decision or unable to make a rational evaluation of the risks and benefits of a proposed medical decision as compared with the risks and benefits of alternatives to that decision, or unable to communicate such understanding in any way. My agent's authority hereunder is effective as long as I am incapable of making an informed decision.
The determination that I am incapable of making an informed decision shall be made by my attending physician and a second physician or licensed clinical psychologist after a personal examination of me and shall be certified in writing. Such certification shall be required before treatment is withheld or withdrawn, and before, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, treatment is provided, and every 180 days thereafter while the treatment continues.
In exercising the power to make health care decisions on my behalf, my agent shall follow my desires and preferences as stated in this document or as otherwise known to my agent. My agent shall be guided by my medical diagnosis and prognosis and any information provided by my physicians as to the intrusiveness, pain, risks, and side effects associated with treatment or nontreatment. My agent shall not authorize a course of treatment which he knows, or upon reasonable inquiry ought to know, is contrary to my religious beliefs or my basic values, whether expressed orally or in writing. If my agent cannot determine what treatment choice I would have made on my own behalf, then my agent shall make a choice for me based upon what he believes to be in my best interests.
OPTION: POWERS OF MY AGENT (CROSS THROUGH ANY LANGUAGE YOU DO NOT WANT AND ADD ANY LANGUAGE YOU DO WANT.)
The powers of my agent shall include the following:
A. To consent to or refuse or withdraw consent to any type of medical care, treatment, surgical procedure, diagnostic procedure, medication and the use of mechanical or other procedures that affect any bodily function, including, but not limited to, artificial respiration, artificially administered nutrition and hydration, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This authorization specifically includes the power to consent to the administration of dosages of pain-relieving medication in excess of recommended dosages in an amount sufficient to relieve pain, even if such medication carries the risk of addiction or inadvertently hastens my death;
B. To request, receive, and review any information, verbal or written, regarding my physical or mental health, including but not limited to, medical and hospital records, and to consent to the disclosure of this information;
C. To employ and discharge my health care providers;
D. To authorize my admission to or discharge (including
transfer to another facility) from any hospital, hospice, nursing home, adult
home or other medical care facility for services other than those for treatment
of mental illness requiring admission procedures provided in Article 1 (§
37.2-800 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 37.2; and
E. To authorize my admission to or dishcarge (including transfer to another facility) from a mental health facility pursuant to § 37.2-805.1; and
EF. To
take any lawful actions that may be necessary to carry out these decisions,
including the granting of releases of liability to medical providers.
Further, my agent shall not be liable for the costs of treatment pursuant to his authorization, based solely on that authorization.
OPTION: APPOINTMENT OF AN AGENT TO MAKE AN ANATOMICAL GIFT OR ORGAN, TISSUE OR EYE DONATION (CROSS THROUGH IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO APPOINT AN AGENT TO MAKE AN ANATOMICAL GIFT OR ANY ORGAN, TISSUE OR EYE DONATION FOR YOU.)
Upon my death, I direct that an anatomical gift of all of my body or certain
organ, tissue or eye donations may be made pursuant to Article 2 (§ 32.1-289.2
et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 32.1 and in accordance with my directions, if
any. I hereby appoint ....... as my agent, of ....... (address and telephone
number), to make any such anatomical gift or organ, tissue or eye donation
following my death. I further direct that: ....... (declarant's directions
concerning anatomical gift or organ, tissue or eye donation).
This advance directive shall not terminate in the event of my disability.
By signing below, I indicate that I am emotionally and mentally competent to make this advance directive and that I understand the purpose and effect of this document.
__________ ______________________________
(Date) (Signature of Declarant)
The declarant signed the foregoing advance directive in my presence.
(Witness) ________________________________________
(Witness) ________________________________________
§ 54.1-2986. Procedure in absence of an advance directive; procedure for advance directive without agent; no presumption; persons who may authorize treatment for patients incapable of informed decisions; applicability restricted to nonprotesting patients.
A. Whenever (i) the attending physician of an adult patient has determined after personal examination that such patient, because of mental illness, mental retardation, or any other mental disorder, or a physical disorder which precludes communication or impairs judgment, is incapable of making an informed decision about providing, withholding or withdrawing a specific medical treatment or course of treatment and such adult patient has not made an advance directive in accordance with this article or (ii) the attending physician of an adult patient has determined after personal examination that such patient, because of mental illness, mental retardation, or any other mental disorder, or a physical disorder which precludes communication or impairs judgment, is incapable of making an informed decision about providing, withholding or withdrawing a specific medical treatment or course of treatment and the adult patient has made an advance directive in accordance with this article which does not indicate his wishes with respect to the specific course of treatment at issue and does not appoint an agent to make health care decisions upon his becoming incapable of making an informed decision, the attending physician may, upon compliance with the provisions of this section, provide to, withhold or withdraw from such patient medical or surgical care or treatment, including, but not limited to, life-prolonging procedures, upon the authorization of any of the following persons, in the specified order of priority, if the physician is not aware of any available, willing and competent person in a higher class:
1. A guardian or committee for the patient. This subdivision shall not be construed to require such appointment in order that a treatment decision can be made under this section; or
2. The patient's spouse except where a divorce action has been filed and the divorce is not final; or
3. An adult child of the patient; or
4. A parent of the patient; or
5. An adult brother or sister of the patient; or
6. Any other relative of the patient in the descending order of blood relationship.
If two or more of the persons listed in the same class in subdivisions A 3 through A 6 with equal decision-making priority inform the attending physician that they disagree as to a particular treatment decision, the attending physician may rely on the authorization of a majority of the reasonably available members of that class.
Any person authorized to consent to the providing, withholding or withdrawing of treatment pursuant to this article shall (i) prior to giving consent, make a good faith effort to ascertain the risks and benefits of and alternatives to the treatment and the religious beliefs and basic values of the patient receiving treatment, and to inform the patient, to the extent possible, of the proposed treatment and the fact that someone else is authorized to make a decision regarding that treatment and (ii) base his decision on the patient's religious beliefs and basic values and any preferences previously expressed by the patient regarding such treatment to the extent they are known, and if unknown or unclear, on the patient's best interests. Regardless of the absence of an advance directive, if the patient has expressed his intent to be an organ donor in any written document, no person noted in this section shall revoke, or in any way hinder, such organ donation.
B. The absence of an advance directive by an adult patient shall not give rise to any presumption as to his intent to consent to or refuse life-prolonging procedures.
C. The provisions of this article shall not apply to
authorization of nontherapeutic sterilization, abortion, or psychosurgery,
or admission to a facility, as defined in § 37.2-100; however, the provisions
of this article, if otherwise applicable, may be employed to authorize a
specific treatment or course of treatment for a person who has been lawfully
admitted to such a facility.
Further, the provisions of this article shall not authorize providing, continuing, withholding or withdrawing of treatment if the provider of the treatment knows that such an action is protested by the patient. No person shall authorize treatment, or a course of treatment, pursuant to this article, that such person knows, or upon reasonable inquiry ought to know, is contrary to the religious beliefs or basic values of the patient unable to make a decision, whether expressed orally or in writing.
D. Prior to withholding or withdrawing treatment for which authorization has been obtained or will be sought pursuant to this article and prior to, or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, the initiation of treatment for which authorization has been obtained or will be sought pursuant to this article, and no less frequently than every 180 days while the treatment continues, the attending physician shall obtain written certification that the patient is incapable of making an informed decision regarding the treatment from a licensed physician or clinical psychologist which shall be based on a personal examination of the patient. Whenever the authorization is being sought for treatment of a mental illness, the second physician or licensed clinical psychologist shall not be otherwise currently involved in the treatment of the person assessed. The cost of the assessment shall be considered for all purposes a cost of the patient's treatment.
E. On petition of any person to the circuit court of the county or city in which any patient resides or is located for whom treatment will be or is currently being provided, withheld or withdrawn pursuant to this article, the court may enjoin such action upon finding by a preponderance of the evidence that the action is not lawfully authorized by this article or by other state or federal law.
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