CHAPTER 155
POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
155.05 Power of attorney for health care.
155.10 Power of attorney for health care instrument; execution; witnesses.
155.20 Health care agent; powers; limitations.
155.30 Power of attorney for health care instrument; form.
155.40 Revocation of power of attorney for health care.
155.50 Duties and immunities.
155.65 Filing power of attorney instrument.
155.70 General provisions.
155.01
155.01
Definitions. In this chapter:
155.01(1)
(1) “Department" means the department of health services.
155.01(2m)
(2m) “Feeding tube" means a medical tube through which nutrition or hydration is administered into the vein, stomach, nose, mouth or other body opening of a declarant.
155.01(3)
(3) “Health care" means any care, treatment, service or procedure to maintain, diagnose or treat an individual's physical or mental condition.
155.01(4)
(4) “Health care agent" means an individual designated by a principal to make health care decisions on behalf of the principal or, if that individual is unable or unwilling to make those decisions, an alternate individual designated by the principal to do so.
155.01(5)
(5) “Health care decision" means an informed decision in the exercise of the right to accept, maintain, discontinue or refuse health care.
155.01(6)
(6) “Health care facility" means a facility, as defined in
s. 647.01 (4), or any hospital, nursing home, community-based residential facility, county home, county infirmary, county hospital, county mental health center or other place licensed or approved by the department under
s. 49.70,
49.71,
49.72,
50.02,
50.03,
50.35,
51.08 or
51.09 or a facility under
s. 45.50,
51.05,
51.06,
233.40,
233.41,
233.42 or
252.10.
155.01(7)
(7) “Health care provider" means a nurse licensed or permitted under
ch. 441, a chiropractor licensed under
ch. 446, a dentist licensed under
ch. 447, a physician, physician assistant, perfusionist, podiatrist, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapist, or occupational therapy assistant licensed under
ch. 448, a person practicing Christian Science treatment, an optometrist licensed under
ch. 449, a psychologist licensed under
ch. 455, a partnership thereof, a corporation or limited liability company thereof that provides health care services, a cooperative health care association organized under
s. 185.981 that directly provides services through salaried employees in its own facility, or a home health agency, as defined in
s. 50.49 (1) (a).
155.01(8)
(8) “Incapacity" means the inability to receive and evaluate information effectively or to communicate decisions to such an extent that the individual lacks the capacity to manage his or her health care decisions.
155.01(9)
(9) “Multipurpose senior center" means a facility that is the focal point for the delivery of services in a community to individuals aged 60 or older for purposes of the state plan under
42 USC 3027.
155.01(10)
(10) “Power of attorney for health care" means the designation, by an individual, of another as his or her health care agent for the purpose of making health care decisions on his or her behalf if the individual cannot, due to incapacity.
155.01(11)
(11) “Principal" means an individual who executes a power of attorney for health care.
155.01(12)
(12) “Relative" means an individual related by blood within the 3rd degree of kinship as computed under
s. 990.001 (16); a spouse, domestic partner under
ch. 770, or an individual related to a spouse or domestic partner within the 3rd degree as so computed; and includes an individual in an adoptive relationship within the 3rd degree.
155.05
155.05
Power of attorney for health care. 155.05(1)
(1) An individual who is of sound mind and has attained age 18 may voluntarily execute a power of attorney for health care. An individual for whom an adjudication of incompetence and appointment of a guardian of the person is in effect in this state is presumed not to be of sound mind for purposes of this subsection executing a power of attorney for health care.
155.05(2)
(2) Unless otherwise specified in the power of attorney for health care instrument, an individual's power of attorney for health care takes effect upon a finding of incapacity by 2 physicians, as defined in
s. 448.01 (5), or one physician and one licensed psychologist, as defined in
s. 455.01 (4), who personally examine the principal and sign a statement specifying that the principal has incapacity. Mere old age, eccentricity or physical disability, either singly or together, are insufficient to make a finding of incapacity. Neither of the individuals who make a finding of incapacity may be a relative of the principal or have knowledge that he or she is entitled to or has a claim on any portion of the principal's estate. A copy of the statement, if made, shall be appended to the power of attorney for health care instrument.
155.05(3)
(3) No health care provider for an individual, employee of that health care provider or employee of a health care facility in which an individual is a patient or resides, or a spouse of any of those providers or employees, may be designated by the individual as a health care agent unless the health care provider, employee or spouse of the provider or employee is a relative of the individual.
155.05(4)
(4) The desires of a principal who does not have incapacity supersede the effect of his or her power of attorney for health care at all times.
155.05(5)
(5) A principal may designate an alternate individual to serve as his or her health care agent in the event that the health care agent first designated is unable or unwilling to do so.
155.05 History
History: 1989 a. 200;
2005 a. 387.
155.05 Annotation
Power of Attorney for Health Care. Sweet. Wis. Law. Sept. 1990.
155.05 Annotation
Planning Ahead for Incapacity. Shapiro. Wis. Law. Aug. 1991.
155.10
155.10
Power of attorney for health care instrument; execution; witnesses. 155.10(1)
(1) A valid power of attorney for health care instrument shall be all of the following:
155.10(1)(b)
(b) Dated and signed by the principal or by an individual who has attained age 18, at the express direction and in the presence of the principal.
155.10(1)(c)
(c) Signed in the presence of 2 witnesses who meet the requirements of
sub. (2).
155.10(2)
(2) A witness to the execution of a valid power of attorney for health care instrument shall be an individual who has attained age 18. No witness to the execution of the power of attorney for health care instrument may, at the time of the execution, be any of the following:
155.10(2)(a)
(a) Related to the principal by blood, marriage, or adoption, or the domestic partner under
ch. 770 of the individual.
155.10(2)(b)
(b) Have knowledge that he or she is entitled to or has a claim on any portion of the principal's estate.
155.10(2)(c)
(c) Directly financially responsible for the principal's health care.
155.10(2)(d)
(d) An individual who is a health care provider who is serving the principal at the time of execution, an employee, other than a chaplain or a social worker, of the health care provider or an employee, other than a chaplain or a social worker, of an inpatient health care facility in which the principal is a patient.
155.10 Annotation
Wisconsin statutes provide 3 instruments through which an individual may state healthcare wishes in the event of incapacitation: a “declaration to physicians," a “do-not-resuscitate order," and a “health care power of attorney." These statutory instruments apply under specific circumstances, have their own signature requirements, and may be limited in the extent of authorization they afford. A form will trigger no statutory immunities for healthcare providers when it lacks the features of these statutory documents. A court might conclude, however, that such a form is relevant in discerning a person's intent.
OAG 10-14 155.20
155.20
Health care agent; powers; limitations. 155.20(1)(1) Unless the power of attorney for health care instrument otherwise provides and except as specified in
subs. (2) (a) and
(b),
(3) and
(4) and
s. 155.60 (2), the health care agent who is known to the health care provider to be available to make health care decisions for the principal has priority over any individual other than the principal to make these health care decisions.
155.20(2)(a)(a) A health care agent may not consent to admission of the principal on an inpatient basis to any of the following:
155.20(2)(b)
(b) A principal may be admitted or committed on an inpatient basis to a facility specified in
par. (a) 1. to
4. only under the applicable requirements of
ch. 51 or
55.
155.20(2)(c)2.
2. A health care agent may consent to the admission of a principal to the following facilities, under the following conditions:
155.20(2)(c)2.a.
a. To a nursing home, for recuperative care for a period not to exceed 3 months, if the principal is admitted directly from a hospital inpatient unit, unless the hospital admission was for psychiatric care.
155.20(2)(c)2.b.
b. If the principal lives with his or her health care agent, to a nursing home or a community-based residential facility, as a temporary placement not to exceed 30 days, in order to provide the health care agent with a vacation or to release temporarily the health care agent for a family emergency.
155.20(2)(c)2.c.
c. To a nursing home or a community-based residential facility, for purposes other than those specified in
subd. 2. a. and
b., if the power of attorney for health care instrument specifically so authorizes and if the principal is not diagnosed as developmentally disabled or as having a mental illness at the time of the proposed admission.
155.20(3)
(3) A health care agent may not consent to experimental mental health research or to psychosurgery, electroconvulsive treatment or drastic mental health treatment procedures for the principal.
155.20(4)
(4) A health care agent may consent to the withholding or withdrawal of a feeding tube for the principal if the power of attorney for health care instrument so authorizes, unless the principal's attending physician advises that, in his or her professional judgment, the withholding or withdrawal will cause the principal pain or reduce the principal's comfort. A health care agent may not consent to the withholding or withdrawal of orally ingested nutrition or hydration unless provision of the nutrition or hydration is medically contraindicated.
155.20(5)
(5) The health care agent shall act in good faith consistently with the desires of the principal as expressed in the power of attorney for health care instrument or as otherwise specifically directed by the principal to the health care agent at any time. The health care agent shall act in good faith consistently with any valid declaration executed by the principal under
subch. II of ch. 154, except that the provisions of a principal's valid power of attorney for health care instrument supersede any directly conflicting provisions of a valid declaration executed by the principal under
subch. II of ch. 154. In the absence of a specific directive by the principal or if the principal's desires are unknown, the health care agent shall, in good faith, act in the best interests of the principal in exercising his or her authority.
155.20(6)
(6) If the principal is known to be pregnant, the health care agent may make a health care decision on behalf of the principal that the power of attorney for health care instrument authorizes.
155.20(7)
(7) If necessary to implement the health care decisions that a health care agent is authorized to make, in accordance with the desires of the principal, the health care agent may sign or otherwise execute any documents, waivers or releases related to the principal's care or treatment.
155.30
155.30
Power of attorney for health care instrument; form. 155.30(1)(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:
“NOTICE TO PERSON
MAKING THIS DOCUMENT
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.
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.
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.
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 OR DOMESTIC PARTNER AND YOUR MARRIAGE IS ANNULLED OR YOU ARE DIVORCED OR THE DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP IS TERMINATED AFTER SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, THE DOCUMENT IS INVALID.
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 RECORD OF GIFT THAT YOU MAY HAVE MADE. YOU MAY REVOKE OR CHANGE ANY ANATOMICAL GIFT THAT YOU MAKE BY THIS DOCUMENT BY CROSSING OUT THE ANATOMICAL GIFTS PROVISION IN THIS DOCUMENT.
DO NOT SIGN THIS DOCUMENT UNLESS YOU CLEARLY UNDERSTAND IT.
IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU KEEP THE ORIGINAL OF THIS DOCUMENT ON FILE WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN."
155.30(2)
(2) A power of attorney for health care instrument that is other than that specified in
sub. (1) or
(3) shall include either the notice specified in
sub. (1) or a certificate signed by the principal's lawyer stating: “I am a lawyer authorized to practice law in Wisconsin. I have advised my client concerning his or her rights in connection with this power of attorney for health care and the applicable law."
155.30(3)
(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:
POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
Document made this.... day of.... (month),.... (year).
