AB582: Bill Text

LRB-2939/3

TAY&JS:kmg&jlg:lp

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 582

October 29, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Wasserman, Huber, Underheim, Kreuser, Walker, Staskunas, Baumgart, Bock, Brandemuehl, Goetsch, Gronemus, Krug, Ladwig, Murat, Notestein, Porter and R. Young, cosponsored by Senators Rosenzweig, Risser, Roessler, Grobschmidt and Huelsman. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AB582,1,5 An Act to amend 155.30 (1) and 155.30 (3); and to create 157.06 (2) (f) 1m., 157.06 (2) (f) 6. and 157.06 (3) (a) 7. of the statutes; relating to: allowing a power of attorney for health care instrument to be used to make or refuse to make an anatomical gift and allowing a health care agent to make an anatomical gift.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, an individual may, in a power of attorney for health care instrument, designate another individual (health care agent) to make health care decisions for him or her if he or she is incapable of doing so. Also under current law, by following certain procedures an individual may make an anatomical gift, which is effective after the individual's death.

Under this bill, an individual may, in a power of attorney for health care instrument, specify that he or she wishes to make or refuses to make an anatomical gift. The bill also includes a health care agent in the list of person who may make an anatomical gift of all or part of a decendent's body in the absence of an unrevoked refusal to make that anatomical gift.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB582, s. 1 Section 1. 155.30 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB582,2,6 155.30 (1) A printed form of a power of attorney for health care instrument that is sold or otherwise distributed for use by an individual in this state who does not have the advice of legal counsel shall provide no authority other than the authority to make health care decisions on behalf of the principal and shall contain the following statement in not less than 10-point boldface type:

AB582,2,7 "NOTICE TO PERSON

AB582,2,8 MAKING THIS DOCUMENT

AB582,2,12 YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH CARE. NO HEALTH CARE MAY BE GIVEN TO YOU OVER YOUR OBJECTION, AND NECESSARY HEALTH CARE MAY NOT BE STOPPED OR WITHHELD IF YOU OBJECT.

AB582,2,18 BECAUSE YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN SOME CASES MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, THEY ARE OFTEN UNFAMILIAR WITH YOUR BELIEFS AND VALUES AND THE DETAILS OF YOUR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. THIS POSES A PROBLEM IF YOU BECOME PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY UNABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH CARE.

AB582,3,6 IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM, YOU MAY SIGN THIS LEGAL DOCUMENT TO SPECIFY THE PERSON WHOM YOU WANT TO MAKE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR YOU IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS PERSONALLY. THAT PERSON IS KNOWN AS YOUR HEALTH CARE AGENT. YOU SHOULD TAKE SOME TIME TO DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS ABOUT MEDICAL TREATMENT WITH THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHOM YOU HAVE SPECIFIED. YOU MAY STATE IN THIS DOCUMENT ANY TYPES OF HEALTH CARE THAT YOU DO OR DO NOT DESIRE, AND YOU MAY LIMIT THE AUTHORITY OF YOUR HEALTH CARE AGENT. IF YOUR HEALTH CARE AGENT IS UNAWARE OF YOUR DESIRES WITH RESPECT TO A PARTICULAR HEALTH CARE DECISION, HE OR SHE IS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BE IN YOUR BEST INTERESTS IN MAKING THE DECISION.

AB582,3,19 THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENT. IT GIVES YOUR AGENT BROAD POWERS TO MAKE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR YOU. IT REVOKES ANY PRIOR POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE THAT YOU MAY HAVE MADE. IF YOU WISH TO CHANGE YOUR POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE, YOU MAY REVOKE THIS DOCUMENT AT ANY TIME BY DESTROYING IT, BY DIRECTING ANOTHER PERSON TO DESTROY IT IN YOUR PRESENCE, BY SIGNING A WRITTEN AND DATED STATEMENT OR BY STATING THAT IT IS REVOKED IN THE PRESENCE OF TWO WITNESSES. IF YOU REVOKE, YOU SHOULD NOTIFY YOUR AGENT, YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND ANY OTHER PERSON TO WHOM YOU HAVE GIVEN A COPY. IF YOUR AGENT IS YOUR SPOUSE AND YOUR MARRIAGE IS ANNULLED OR YOU ARE DIVORCED AFTER SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, THE DOCUMENT IS INVALID.

AB582,4,2 YOU MAY ALSO USE THIS DOCUMENT TO MAKE OR REFUSE TO MAKE AN ANATOMICAL GIFT UPON YOUR DEATH. IF YOU USE THIS DOCUMENT TO MAKE OR REFUSE TO MAKE AN ANATOMICAL GIFT, THIS DOCUMENT REVOKES ANY PRIOR DOCUMENT OF GIFT THAT YOU MAY HAVE MADE. YOU MAKE REVOKE OR CHANGE ANY ANATOMICAL GIFT THAT YOU MAKE BY THIS DOCUMENT BY CROSSING OUT THE ANATOMICAL GIFTS PROVISION IN THIS DOCUMENT.

AB582,4,4 DO NOT SIGN THIS DOCUMENT UNLESS YOU CLEARLY UNDERSTAND IT.

AB582,4,6 IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU KEEP THE ORIGINAL OF THIS DOCUMENT ON FILE WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN.".

AB582, s. 2 Section 2. 155.30 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB582,4,20 155.30 (3) The department shall prepare and provide copies of a power of attorney for health care instrument and accompanying information for distribution in quantities to health care professionals, hospitals, nursing homes, multipurpose senior centers, county clerks and local bar associations and individually to private persons. The department shall include, in information accompanying the copy of the instrument, at least the statutory definitions of terms used in the instrument, statutory restrictions on who may be witnesses to a valid instrument, a statement explaining that valid witnesses acting in good faith are statutorily immune from civil or criminal liability and a statement explaining that an instrument may, but need not, be filed with the register in probate of the principal's county of residence. The department may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of preparation and distribution. The power of attorney for health care instrument distributed by the department shall include the notice specified in sub. (1) and shall be in the following form:

AB582,4,21 POWER OF ATTORNEY

AB582,4,22 FOR HEALTH CARE

AB582,4,23 Document made this.... day of.... (month),.... (year).

AB582,4,24 CREATION OF POWER OF

AB582,4,25 ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE

AB582,5,8 I,.... (print name, address and date of birth), being of sound mind, intend by this document to create a power of attorney for health care. My executing this power of attorney for health care is voluntary. Despite the creation of this power of attorney for health care, I expect to be fully informed about and allowed to participate in any health care decision for me, to the extent that I am able. For the purposes of this document, "health care decision" means an informed decision to accept, maintain, discontinue or refuse any care, treatment, service or procedure to maintain, diagnose or treat my physical or mental condition.

AB582,5,10 In addition, I may, by this document, specify my wishes with respect to making an anatomical gift upon my death.

AB582,5,11 DESIGNATION OF HEALTH CARE AGENT

AB582,6,2 If I am no longer able to make health care decisions for myself, due to my incapacity, I hereby designate.... (print name, address and telephone number) to be my health care agent for the purpose of making health care decisions on my behalf. If he or she is ever unable or unwilling to do so, I hereby designate.... (print name, address and telephone number) to be my alternate health care agent for the purpose of making health care decisions on my behalf. Neither my health care agent or nor my alternate health care agent whom I have designated is my health care provider, an employe of my health care provider, an employe of a health care facility in which I am a patient or a spouse of any of those persons, unless he or she is also my relative. For purposes of this document, "incapacity" exists if 2 physicians or a physician and a psychologist who have personally examined me sign a statement that specifically expresses their opinion that I have a condition that means that I am unable to receive and evaluate information effectively or to communicate decisions to such an extent that I lack the capacity to manage my health care decisions. A copy of that statement must be attached to this document.

AB582,6,3 GENERAL STATEMENT OF

AB582,6,4 AUTHORITY GRANTED

AB582,6,11 Unless I have specified otherwise in this document, if I ever have incapacity I instruct my health care provider to obtain the health care decision of my health care agent, if I need treatment, for all of my health care and treatment. I have discussed my desires thoroughly with my health care agent and believe that he or she understands my philosophy regarding the health care decisions I would make if I were able. I desire that my wishes be carried out through the authority given to my health care agent under this document.

AB582,6,20 If I am unable, due to my incapacity, to make a health care decision, my health care agent is instructed to make the health care decision for me, but my health care agent should try to discuss with me any specific proposed health care if I am able to communicate in any manner, including by blinking my eyes. If this communication cannot be made, my health care agent shall base his or her decision on any health care choices that I have expressed prior to the time of the decision. If I have not expressed a health care choice about the health care in question and communication cannot be made, my health care agent shall base his or her health care decision on what he or she believes to be in my best interest.

AB582,6,21 LIMITATIONS ON

AB582,6,22 MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

AB582,7,2 My health care agent may not admit or commit me on an inpatient basis to an institution for mental diseases, an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, a state treatment facility or a treatment facility. My health care agent may not consent to experimental mental health research or psychosurgery, electroconvulsive treatment or drastic mental health treatment procedures for me.

AB582,7,3 ADMISSION TO NURSING HOMES OR

AB582,7,4 COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES

AB582,7,6 My health care agent may admit me to a nursing home or community-based residential facility for short-term stays for recuperative care or respite care.

AB582,7,9 If I have checked "Yes" to the following, my health care agent may admit me for a purpose other than recuperative care or respite care, but if I have checked "No" to the following, my health care agent may not so admit me:

AB582,7,10 1. A nursing home — Yes.... No....

AB582,7,11 2. A community-based residential facility — Yes.... No....

AB582,7,14 If I have not checked either "Yes" or "No" immediately above, my health care agent may only admit me only for short-term stays for recuperative care or respite care.

AB582,7,15 PROVISION OF A FEEDING TUBE

AB582,7,20 If I have checked "Yes" to the following, my health care agent may have a feeding tube withheld or withdrawn from me, unless my physician has advised that, in his or her professional judgment, this will cause me pain or will reduce my comfort. If I have checked "No" to the following, my health care agent may not have a feeding tube withheld or withdrawn from me.

AB582,7,23 My health care agent may not have orally ingested nutrition or hydration withheld or withdrawn from me unless provision of the nutrition or hydration is medically contraindicated.