Indiana Code 29-2-16.1-20. Declarations and advance health care directives; procurement organizations
(1) “Advance health care directive” means a power of attorney for health care or a record signed by a prospective donor containing the prospective donor’s direction concerning a health care decision for the prospective donor.
Terms Used In Indiana Code 29-2-16.1-20
- Donor: The person who makes a gift.
- Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
(3) “Health care decision” means any decision made regarding the health care of the prospective donor.
(b) If a prospective donor has a declaration or advance health care directive, unless the directive expressly states the contrary, hospitals must use measures necessary to allow a procurement agency to determine the medical suitability of an organ for transplantation or therapy by insuring that life support is not withdrawn from the prospective donor before consultation with the appropriate procurement agency to determine medical potential for donation. The procurement organization shall make every effort to determine donor potential within approximately two (2) hours from the time the procurement organization is contacted by the hospital. A hospital may, in accordance with a donor’s declaration or advance health care directive, withdraw life support from the prospective donor if the procurement organization has not made a determination of donor potential within six (6) hours from the time the procurement organization is contacted by the hospital.
As added by P.L.147-2007, SEC.12.