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A NEW ERA OF ADVANCE
HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVES
AND HEALTH CARE
DECISION-MAKING
FOR
INCOMPETENT PATIENTS
 | Control over one's own health care decision-making
and medical treatment choices is an important right that individuals want
to protect. Exercising such control, either directly or though a
self-chosen surrogate, is an essential part of personal autonomy.
Individuals also want to retain a sense of dignity in their health care
treatment, especially if they become incompetent. |
| Prior to 2007 the health care decision-making
rights of individuals who are incompetent were not fully protected in Pennsylvania,
especially if no living will or health care power of
attorney had been signed prior to the person becoming incompetent. However, with the passage of
Act 169, which became effective on January 29, 2007, a new era has begun in
Pennsylvania for ensuring that the rights of incompetent patients to make health care decisions
and medical treatment choices will be effectively exercised, even
if there is no advance directive or health care power of attorney in effect.
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| This Article will discuss in the sections below
the changes that have been made in Pennsylvania law with enactment of Act
169. |
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DISCLAIMER
Martin J. Hagan is licensed to practice law in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This website is intended solely for
informational use and is not intended to solicit clients. Likewise, any
information contained in or obtained from this web site is for informational
purposes only and is not intended to be used as legal advice.
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(or any link from it) does not constitute a formal opinion. Accordingly, any tax
advice contained in this website (or any link from it) is not intended or
written to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of
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based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
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Copyright © 2007 Martin J. Hagan, One Gateway Center - 8 South; Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1435
Last Updated:
06/29/07
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