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Sec. 19a-577. Form of document re appointment of health care representative.

      Sec. 19a-577. Form of document re appointment of health care representative. Any person eighteen years of age or older may execute a document that may, but need not be, in substantially the following form:

DOCUMENT CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT

OF HEALTH CARE REPRESENTATIVE

      "I understand that, as a competent adult, I have the right to make decisions about my health care. There may come a time when I am unable, due to incapacity, to make my own health care decisions. In these circumstances, those caring for me will need direction and will turn to someone who knows my values and health care wishes. By signing this appointment of health care representative, I appoint a health care representative with legal authority to make health care decisions on my behalf in such case or at such time.

      I appoint .... (Name) to be my health care representative. If my attending physician determines that I am unable to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of health care decisions and to reach and communicate an informed decision regarding treatment, my health care representative is authorized to (1) accept or refuse any treatment, service or procedure used to diagnose or treat my physical or mental condition, except as otherwise provided by law, such as for psychosurgery or shock therapy, as defined in section 17a-540, and (2) make the decision to provide, withhold or withdraw life support systems. I direct my health care representative to make decisions on my behalf in accordance with my wishes as stated in a living will, or as otherwise known to my health care representative. In the event my wishes are not clear or a situation arises that I did not anticipate, my health care representative may make a decision in my best interests, based upon what is known of my wishes.

      If this person is unwilling or unable to serve as my health care representative, I appoint .... (Name) to be my alternative health care representative."

      "This request is made, after careful reflection, while I am of sound mind."

      .... (Signature)

.... (Date)

      This document was signed in our presence, by the above-named .... (Name) who appeared to be eighteen years of age or older, of sound mind and able to understand the nature and consequences of health care decisions at the time the document was signed.

.... (Witness)

.... (Address)

.... (Witness)

.... (Address)

      (P.A. 91-283, S. 6; P.A. 06-195, S. 68; 06-196, S. 212; P.A. 07-252, S. 20.)

      History: P.A. 06-195 made a technical change, substituted "health care representative" for "health care agent", expanded form of document re appointment of health care representative, deleted former Subdivs. (1) and (2) and added language re authority of health care representative to accept or refuse specific medical treatments, to carry out declarant's wishes in living will and, when wishes are unclear, to make decisions in declarant's best interests; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes, effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 07-252 added Subdiv. (1) and (2) designators, clarified health care representative's authority to accept or refuse psychosurgery or shock therapy and incorporated definition of shock therapy in Sec. 17a-540.