Who Can Make Medical Decisions for a Brain Injury Victim?
A brain injury victim can continue to make his or her own medical decisions provided the victim has “capacity” as defined by California Probate Code Section 4609. Under this probate code section, capacity refers to the ability to understand the “nature and consequences” of a decision, to evaluate the risks of treatment, and to communicate a decision that has been made. If a victim does not have capacity because the brain injuries have left him unconscious or with reduced cognitive function, he no longer has the authority to make his own choices on what treatment to undergo.
If the brain injury victim has created a living will, this will dictate what treatment he will receive. A living will is the first resource consulted when making medical decisions for a brain injury victim who cannot speak on his own behalf. If the living will precludes extraordinary life-saving measures or provides specific details about a particular type of treatment, the wishes of the brain injury victim as outlined in the living will must be respected.
If there is no living will or the living will does not provide guidance on a particular medical decision, the next question is whether there is a healthcare power of attorney. If the brain injury victim created a healthcare power of attorney before becoming incapacitated, the victim will have named an agent. The agent will have the authority to make medical decisions for a brain injury victim.
The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) is a federal law applicable to all California hospitals, HMOs, and other providers. The PSDA requires hospitals and other facilities to ask if a patient has advanced healthcare directives when the patient is admitted and to abide by those directives. A healthcare facility should determine if an advanced directive is on file when a brain injury victim is admitted.
If the brain injury victim can’t speak for himself, has no living will, and has no agent, then the California Department of Social Services explains that close family members or friends will be asked to decide what treatment a brain injury victim should receive. There may be disagreement among family and friends about what decisions are best and the courts may need to step in. Probate Code Section 3200 establishes guidelines for how the court can address disputes regarding consent for treatment of a brain injury victim.
When decisions need to be made and there is no agent or living will, a close relative can also ask for a conservatorship. A person with a conservatorship has the legal authority to make medical decisions for a brain injury victim.
Getting Help from a Long Beach Brain Injury Lawyer
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