Tennessee § 33-3-219 - Surrogate decision maker for medical decisions — Immunity from liability.

§ 33-3-219. Surrogate decision maker for medical decisions — Immunity from liability.

IF an adult with developmental disability that is not based solely on a diagnosis of mental illness or serious emotional disturbance does not have a conservator, OR a child with developmental disability that is not based solely on a diagnosis of mental illness or serious emotional disturbance does not have a parent or legal guardian, AND a licensed dentist determines that the person lacks capacity to make a decision about a routine dental decision, OR a licensed psychologist with health service provider designation determines that the person lacks capacity to make a decision about routine mental health treatment, OR a licensed physician determines that the person lacks capacity to make a decision about routine medical or mental health treatment, AND the physician, psychologist, or dentist uses the assessment process prescribed by rule under § 33-3-217, AND the physician, psychologist, or dentist determines that someone is eligible to serve as a surrogate decision maker for the service recipient on the matter in question under § 33-3-220, AND the service recipient does not reject the proposed surrogate for the decision in any way, AND the physician, psychologist or dentist provides the surrogate the information necessary to an informed decision, THEN the surrogate may decide for the service recipient with respect to the matter in question, AND the surrogate who acts in good faith, reasonably and without malice in connection with the decision shall be free from all liability, civil or criminal, by reason of the decision. Acts 2000, ch. 947, § 1; 2002, ch. 730, § 19.