RCW 71.32.130 Determination of capacity—Reevaluations of capacity.

(1) An initial determination of capacity must be completed within forty-eight hours of a request made by a person authorized in RCW 71.32.110. During the period between the request for an initial determination of the principal's capacity and completion of that determination, the principal may not be treated unless he or she consents at the time or treatment is otherwise authorized by state or federal law.

(2)(a)(i) When an incapacitated principal is admitted to inpatient treatment pursuant to the provisions of his or her directive, his or her capacity must be reevaluated within seventy-two hours or when there has been a change in the principal's condition that indicates that he or she appears to have regained capacity, whichever occurs first.

(ii) When an incapacitated principal has been admitted to and remains in inpatient treatment for more than seventy-two hours pursuant to the provisions of his or her directive, the principal's capacity must be reevaluated when there has been a change in his or her condition that indicates that he or she appears to have regained capacity.

(iii) When a principal who is being treated on an inpatient basis and has been determined to be incapacitated requests, or his or her agent requests, a redetermination of the principal's capacity the redetermination must be made within seventy-two hours.

(b) When a principal who has been determined to be incapacitated is being treated on an outpatient basis and there is a request for a redetermination of his or her capacity, the redetermination must be made within five days of the first request following a determination.

(3)(a) When a principal who has appointed an agent for mental health treatment decisions requests a determination or redetermination of capacity, the agent must make reasonable efforts to obtain the determination or redetermination.

(b) When a principal who does not have an agent for mental health treatment decisions is being treated in an inpatient facility and requests a determination or redetermination of capacity, the mental health professional or health care provider must complete the determination or, if the principal is seeking a determination from a court, must make reasonable efforts to notify the person authorized to make decisions for the principal under RCW 7.70.065 of the principal's request.

(c) When a principal who does not have an agent for mental health treatment decisions is being treated on an outpatient basis, the person requesting a capacity determination must arrange for the determination.

(4) If no determination has been made within the time frames established in subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the principal shall be considered to have capacity.

(5) When an incapacitated principal is being treated pursuant to his or her directive, a request for a redetermination of capacity does not prevent treatment.

[ 2003 c 283 § 13.]