Vermont § 9310 - Powers of Commissioner as guardian

§ 9310. Powers of Commissioner as guardian

• (a) The court may appoint the Commissioner guardian of the respondent if it determines
  that a guardian is needed to supervise and protect the respondent through the exercise
  of any or all of the following powers: (1) The power to exercise general supervision over the respondent. This includes choosing
  or changing the residence, care, habilitation, education, and employment of the respondent
  and the power to approve or withhold approval of the sale or encumbrance of real property
  of the respondent; (2) The power to approve or withhold approval of any contract, by or in the name of the
  respondent; (3) The power to obtain legal advice and to commence or defend against judicial actions
  in the name of the respondent; (4) The power to seek, obtain, and give consent to initiation and continuation of medical
  and dental treatment that best promotes the health, comfort, and well-being of the
  respondent, or to withhold consent for initiation or continuation of treatment that
  does not promote the health or well-being of the respondent. In exercising this power,
  the Commissioner shall be guided by the wishes and preferences of the individual.
  Any decision to withhold or abate medical treatment for an irreversible or terminal
  condition shall be reviewed by the Department’s ethics committee. Nothing in this
  chapter shall be interpreted as giving the Commissioner authority to consent to sterilization,
  lobotomy, involuntary administration of psychotropic medications, surgery of the brain
  for the purpose of modifying behavior, or electroconvulsive therapy for the respondent. (b) Nothing in this chapter shall give the Commissioner authority to place a person with
  developmental disabilities in a State hospital except pursuant to chapter 181 of this
  title. (c) The Commissioner shall exercise his or her supervisory authority over the respondent
  in a manner that is least restrictive of the person’s personal freedom consistent
  with the respondent’s need for supervision and protection. (Added 1977, No. 192 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 43, § 1.)