(a) Unless displaced by the particular provisions of this chapter, the principles of law and equity supplement its provisions.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall operate to repeal, alter, or amend the rights of an individual who is the subject of a petition for civil commitment in any proceeding under Chapter 5 of Title 21, or the Mentally Retarded Citizens Constitutional Rights and Dignity Act of 1978, effective November 8, 1978 (D.C. Law 2-137; D.C. Official Code, § 7-1301.01 et seq.).
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall affect any guardian or conservator appointed by the court upon a petition filed prior to the effective date of this chapter.
(d) An individual shall be presumed competent and to have the capacity to make legal, health-care, and all other decisions for himself or herself, unless certified otherwise under section 21-2204 or deemed incapacitated or incompetent by a court. Incapacity shall not be inferred from the fact that an individual:
(1) Has been voluntarily or involuntarily hospitalized for mental illness pursuant to Chapter 5 of Title 21; or
(2) Has mental retardation or has been determined by a court to be incompetent to refuse commitment under Chapter 13 of Title 7.
CREDIT(S)
(Feb. 28, 1987, D.C. Law 6-204, § 2(a), 34 DCR 632; Sept. 22, 1989, D.C. Law 8-34, § 2(b), 36 DCR 5035; Oct. 22, 2008, D.C. Law 17-249, § 2(a), 55 DCR 9206.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 21-2002.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 17-249 added subsec. (d).
Temporary Amendments of Section
Section 2(a) of D.C. Law 16-194 added subsec. (d) to read as follows:
“(d) An individual shall be presumed competent and to have the capacity to make legal, health-care, and all other decisions for himself or herself, unless certified otherwise under section 21-2204 or deemed incapacitated or incompetent by a court. Incapacity shall not be inferred from the fact that an individual:
“(1) Has been voluntarily or involuntarily hospitalized for mental illness pursuant to Chapter 5 of Title 21; or
“(2) Has mental retardation or has been determined by a court to be incompetent to refuse commitment under Chapter 13 of Title 7.”
Section 6(b) of D.C. Law 16-194 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2(a) of D.C. Law 17-100 added subsec. (d) to read as follows:
“(d) An individual shall be presumed competent and to have the capacity to make legal, health-care, and all other decisions for himself or herself, unless certified otherwise under section 21-2204 or deemed incapacitated or incompetent by a court. Incapacity shall not be inferred from the fact that an individual:
“(1) Has been voluntarily or involuntarily hospitalized for mental illness pursuant to Chapter 5 of Title 21; or
“(2) Has mental retardation or has been determined by a court to be incompetent to refuse commitment under Chapter 13 of Title 7.”
Section 6(b) of D.C. Law 17-100 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-480, September 25, 2006, 53 DCR 7940).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-566, December 19, 2006, 53 DCR 10272).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Emergency Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-161, October 18, 2007, 54 DCR 10932).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2008 (D.C. Act 17-245, January 23, 2008, 55 DCR 1230).
For temporary (90 day) amendment, see § 2(a) of Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Emergency Act of 2008 (D.C. Act 17-492, August 4, 2008, 55 DCR 9167).
Legislative History of Laws
For legislative history of D.C. Law 6-204, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 21-2001.
Law 8-34, the “Guardianship Protective Proceedings, and Durable Power of Attorney Revision Amendment Act of 1989,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-226, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 13, 1989, and June 27, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 7, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-59 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 17-249, the “Health-Care Decisions for Persons with Developmental Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008”, was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 17-432 which was referred to the Committee on Human Services. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on July 1, 2008, and July 15, 2008, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on August 4, 2008, it was assigned Act No. 17-496 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 17-249 became effective on October 22, 2008.
References in Text
The “effective date of this chapter,” referred to in subsection (c), is February 28, 1987.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 1-103 of the Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act (1982 Act). See 8A Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on WESTLAW.