Vermont Statutes Title 18 Sec. 9700
Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 18 Sec. 9700
- Agent: means an adult with capacity to whom authority to make health care decisions is delegated under an advance directive, including an alternate agent if the agent is not reasonably available. See
- Capacity: means an individual's ability to make and communicate a decision regarding the issue that needs to be decided. See
- Clinician: means a medical doctor licensed to practice under 26 Vt. See
- Health care: means any treatment, service, or procedure to maintain, diagnose, or treat an individual's physical or mental condition, including services provided pursuant to a clinician's order, and services to assist in activities of daily living provided by a health care provider or in a health care facility or residential care facility. See
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States may apply to the District of Columbia and any territory and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. See
- Surrogate: means an interested individual who provides or withholds, pursuant to subchapter 2 of this chapter, informed consent for a do-not-resuscitate order or a clinician order for life-sustaining treatment. See
§ 9700. Purpose and policy
The State of Vermont recognizes the fundamental right of an adult to determine the extent of health care the individual will receive, including treatment provided during periods of incapacity and at the end of life. This chapter enables adults to retain control over their own health care through the use of advance directives, including appointment of an agent and directions regarding health care and disposition of remains. During periods of incapacity, the decisions by the agent shall be based on the express instructions, wishes, or beliefs of the individual, to the extent those can be determined. This chapter also allows, in limited circumstances in which a patient without capacity has neither an agent nor a guardian, for a surrogate to provide or withhold consent on the patient’s behalf for a do-not-resuscitate order or clinician order for life-sustaining treatment. (Added 2005, No. 55, § 1; eff. Sept. 1, 2005; amended 2015, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2018.)