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1997 SESSION

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HJ 652 Study; Health Care Decisions Act.

Introduced by: Robert G. Marshall | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY:

Study; Health Care Decisions Act. Requests the Board of Medicine to examine the Health Care Decisions Act. The resolution notes that the Natural Death Act was passed by the General Assembly of Virginia in the 1980s, following a detailed study of the concepts and issues. The evolution of the provisions of the Natural Death Act resulted in the revision of this law and its transformation into the Health Care Decisions Act, which encompasses all varieties of advance directives, including health care durable power of attorney. The Health Care Decisions Act establishes procedures for individuals to make advance declarations on how they want to be treated in the event they become terminally ill. The Board of Medicine is requested to examine the operation of the Health Care Decisions Act in regard to (i) who uses advanced directives, i.e., the physical and mental condition or diagnosis of the patients; (ii) the circumstances of the individuals who access this process, e.g., whether institutionalized or living at home, supported by public programs or private funds, etc.; (iii) any issues concerning the ethical implementation of specific circumstances; (iv) professional attitudes and actions in relationship to this act among the various professions serving the terminally ill, the elderly, and the disabled; and (iv) any need for the protection of human life while balancing the rights of individuals.


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