(a) Any competent adult person may execute a declaration directing the withholding or withdrawal of medical care to the person, to become effective on loss of competency. The declaration must be in writing and signed by the principal. The declaration is valid if the principal’s signature is either attested by a notary public with no witnesses or witnessed by two (2) witnesses without attestation by a notary public. A witness is a competent adult, who is not the agent, and at least one (1) of whom is not related to the principal by blood, marriage, or adoption and would not be entitled to any portion of the estate of the principal upon the death of the principal under any will or codicil made by the principal existing at the time of execution of the declaration or by operation of law then existing. The declaration shall contain an attestation clause that attests to the witnesses’ compliance with the requirements of this subsection (a). The declaration shall be substantially in the form established in § 32-11-105. It is the intent of the general assembly that this subsection (a) have retroactive application.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 32-11-104

  • Codicil: An addition, change, or supplement to a will executed with the same formalities required for the will itself.
  • Declarant: means an individual who declares a living will under this chapter. See Tennessee Code 32-11-103
  • Living will: means a written declaration, pursuant to this chapter, stating declarant's desires for medical care or noncare, including palliative care, and other related matters such as organ donation and body disposal. See Tennessee Code 32-11-103
  • Medical care: includes any procedure or treatment rendered by a physician or health care provider designed to diagnose, assess or treat a disease, illness or injury. See Tennessee Code 32-11-103
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Physician: means any person licensed or permitted to practice medical care under title 63, chapters 6 and 9. See Tennessee Code 32-11-103
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) It is the responsibility of the declarant or someone acting on the declarant’s behalf to deliver a copy of the living will or declaration to the attending physician and/or other concerned health care provider. An attending physician who is so notified shall make the declaration, or a copy of it, part of the declarant’s medical record.
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