South Carolina § 62-5-511 - Appointment of successor agents.

§ 62-5-511. Appointment of successor agents.

(a) The principal may appoint one or more successor agents in the health care power of attorney in the event an agent dies, becomes legally disabled, resigns, refuses to act, is unavailable, or, if the agent is the spouse of the principal, becomes divorced or separated from the principal. A successor agent will succeed to all duties and powers given to the agent in the health care power of attorney.

(b) If no agent or successor agent is available, willing, and qualified to make a decision concerning the principal's health care, the decision must be made according to the provisions of and by the person authorized by the Adult Health Care Consent Act.

(c) All directives, statements of personal values, or statements of intent made by the principal in the health care power of attorney must be treated as exercises of the principal's right to direct the course of his health care. Decisions concerning the principal's health care made by a guardian, by the probate court, or by a surrogate pursuant to the Adult Health Care Consent Act, must be made in accordance with the directions stated in the health care power of attorney.

HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 306, SECTION 1; 2005 Act No. 172, SECTION 1; 2006 Act No. 365, SECTION 1; 2008 Act No. 303, SECTIONS 2, 3, eff June 11, 2008; 2010 Act No. 244, SECTION 41, eff June 7, 2010; formerly 1976 Code SECTION 62-5-504; 2016 Act No. 279, SECTION 2, eff January 1, 2017.