Pennsylvania § 5836 - Authority of mental health care agent.

§ 5836. Authority of mental health care agent.

(a) Extent of authority.--Except as expressly provided otherwise in a mental health power of attorney and subject to subsections (b) and (c), a mental health care agent may make any mental health care decision and exercise any right and power regarding the principal's care, custody and mental health care treatment that the principal could have made and exercised.

(b) Powers not granted.--A mental health power of attorney may not convey the power to relinquish parental rights or consent to psychosurgery.

(c) Powers and duties only specifically granted.--Unless specifically included in a mental health power of attorney, the agent shall not have the power to consent to electroconvulsive therapy or to experimental procedures or research.

(d) Mental health care decisions.--After consultation with mental health care providers and after consideration of the prognosis and acceptable alternatives regarding diagnosis, treatments and side effects, a mental health care agent shall make mental health care decisions in accordance with the mental health care agent's understanding and interpretation of the instructions given by the principal at a time when the principal had the capacity to make and communicate mental health care decisions. Instructions include a declaration made by the principal and any clear written or verbal directions that cover the situation presented. In the absence of instructions, the mental health care agent shall make mental health care decisions conforming with the mental health care agent's assessment of the principal's preferences.

(e) Mental health care information.--

(1) Unless specifically provided otherwise in a mental health power of attorney, a mental health care agent shall have the same rights and limitations as the principal to request, examine, copy and consent or refuse to consent to the disclosure of mental health care information.

(2) Disclosure of mental health care information to a mental health care agent shall not be construed to constitute a waiver of any evidentiary privilege or right to assert confidentiality.

(3) A mental health care provider that discloses mental health care information to a mental health care agent in good faith shall not be liable for the disclosure.

(4) A mental health care agent may not disclose mental health care information regarding the principal except as is reasonably necessary to perform the agent's obligations to the principal or as otherwise required by law.

(f) Liability of agent.--A mental health care agent shall not be personally liable for the costs of care and treatment of the principal.

Cross References. Section 5836 is referred to in section 5843 of this title.