26:2H-110 Authority of mental health care representative.

9. a. If it has been determined that the patient lacks decision- making capacity, a mental health care representative shall have authority to make mental health care decisions on behalf of the patient.

(1) The mental health care representative shall act in good faith and within the bounds of the authority granted by the advance directive for mental health care and by this act.

(2) The mental health care representative may consent to the patient's admission to a psychiatric facility only as authorized pursuant to paragraph (6) of subsection a. of section 6 of this act.

b. If a different individual has been appointed as the patient's legal guardian, the mental health care representative shall retain legal authority to make mental health care decisions on the patient's behalf, unless the terms of the legal guardian's court appointment or other court decree provide otherwise.

c. The conferral of legal authority on the mental health care representative shall not be construed to impose liability upon that person for any portion of the patient's health care costs.

d. An individual designated as a mental health care representative or as an alternate mental health care representative may decline to serve in that capacity.

e. The mental health care representative shall exercise the patient's right to be informed of the patient's mental health condition, prognosis and treatment options, and to give informed consent to, or refusal of, health care.

f. In the exercise of these rights and responsibilities, the mental health care representative shall seek to make the mental health care decision that the patient would have made if the patient possessed decision-making capacity under the circumstances, or, when the patient's wishes cannot adequately be determined, shall make a mental health care decision in the best interests of the patient.

g. Departure from the decisions of a mental health care representative shall be permitted only if the responsible mental health care professional determines that compliance with those decisions would:

(1) violate the accepted standard of mental health care or treatment under the circumstances of the patient's mental health condition;

(2) require the use of a form of care or treatment that is not available to the mental health care professional responsible for the provision of mental health services to the patient;

(3) violate a court order or provision of statutory law; or

(4) endanger the life or health of the patient or another person.

L.2005,c.233,s.9.