2983 - Determination of lack of capacity to make health care decisions for the purpose of empowering agent.
§ 2983. Determination of lack of capacity to make health care decisions for the purpose of empowering agent. 1. Determination by attending physician. (a) A determination that a principal lacks capacity to make health care decisions shall be made by the attending physician to a reasonable degree of medical certainty. The determination shall be made in writing and shall contain such attending physician's opinion regarding the cause and nature of the principal's incapacity as well as its extent and probable duration. The determination shall be included in the patient's medical record. For a decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment, the attending physician who makes the determination that a principal lacks capacity to make health care decisions must consult with another physician to confirm such determination. Such consultation shall also be included within the patient's medical record. (b) If an attending physician of a patient in a general hospital or mental hygiene facility determines that a patient lacks capacity because of mental illness, the attending physician who makes the determination must be, or must consult, for the purpose of confirming the determination, with a qualified psychiatrist. A record of such consultation shall be included in the patient's medical record. (c) If the attending physician determines that a patient lacks capacity because of a developmental disability, the attending physician who makes the determination must be, or must consult, for the purpose of confirming the determination, with a physician or clinical psychologist who either is employed by a school named in section 13.17 of the mental hygiene law, or who has been employed for a minimum of two years to render care and service in a facility operated or licensed by the office of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, or who has been approved by the commissioner of mental retardation and developmental disabilities in accordance with regulations promulgated by such commissioner. Such regulations shall require that a physician or clinical psychologist possess specialized training or three years experience in treating developmental disabilities. A record of such consultation shall be included in the patient's medical record. (d) A physician who has been appointed as a patient's agent shall not make the determination of the patient's capacity to make health care decisions. 2. Request for a determination. If requested by the agent, an attending physician shall make a determination regarding the principal's capacity to make health care decisions for the purposes of this article. 3. Notice of determination. Notice of a determination that a principal lacks capacity to make health care decisions shall promptly be given: (a) to the principal, orally and in writing, where there is any indication of the principal's ability to comprehend such notice; (b) to the agent; (c) if the principal is in or is transferred from a mental hygiene facility, to the facility director; and (d) to the conservator for, or committee of, the principal. 4. Limited purpose of determination. A determination made pursuant to this section that a principal lacks capacity to make health care decisions shall not be construed as a finding that the patient lacks capacity for any other purpose. 5. Priority of principal's decision. Notwithstanding a determination pursuant to this section that the principal lacks capacity to make health care decisions, where a principal objects to the determination of incapacity or to a health care decision made by an agent, the principal's objection or decision shall prevail unless the principal is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to lack capacity to make health care decisions.6. Confirmation of lack of capacity. (a) The attending physician shall confirm the principal's continued incapacity before complying with an agent's health care decisions, other than those decisions made at or about the time of the initial determination made pursuant to subdivision one of this section. The confirmation shall be stated in writing and shall be included in the principal's medical record. (b) The notice requirements set forth in subdivision three of this section shall not apply to the confirmation required by this subdivision. 7. Effect of recovery of capacity. In the event the attending physician determines that the principal has regained capacity, the authority of the agent shall cease, but shall recommence if the principal subsequently loses capacity as determined pursuant to this section.