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Statutes > Illinois Laws > CHAPTER 755 ESTATES > 755 ILCS 45/ Illinois Power of Attorney Act. > Article IV - Powers Of Attorney For Health Care

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Article IV - Powers Of Attorney For Health Care


      (755 ILCS 45/Art. IV heading)
ARTICLE IV ‑ POWERS OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE.

    (755 ILCS 45/3‑5)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)
    Sec. 3‑5. Savings clause. This amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly does not in any way invalidate any property power executed or any act of any agent done, or affect any claim, right, or remedy that accrued, prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.
(Source: P.A. 96‑1195, eff. 7‑1‑11.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑1) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑1)
    Sec. 4‑1. Purpose. The General Assembly recognizes the right of the individual to control all aspects of his or her personal care and medical treatment, including the right to decline medical treatment or to direct that it be withdrawn, even if death ensues. The right of the individual to decide about personal care overrides the obligation of the physician and other health care providers to render care or to preserve life and health.
    However, if the individual becomes disabled, her or his right to control treatment may be denied unless the individual, as principal, can delegate the decision making power to a trusted agent and be sure that the agent's power to make personal and health care decisions for the principal will be effective to the same extent as though made by the principal.
    The Illinois statutory recognition of the right of delegation for health care purposes needs to be restated to make it clear that its scope is intended to be as broad as the comparable right of delegation for property and financial matters. However, the General Assembly recognizes that powers concerning life and death and the other issues involved in health care agencies are more sensitive than property matters and that particular rules and forms are necessary for health care agencies to insure their validity and efficacy and to protect health care providers so that they will honor the authority of the agent at all times. For purposes of emphasis and their particular application to health care, the General Assembly restates the purposes and public policy announced in Article II, Section 2‑1 of this Act as if those purposes and public policies were set forth verbatim in this Section.
    In furtherance of these purposes, the General Assembly adopts this Article, setting forth general principles governing health care agencies and a statutory short form power of attorney for health care, intending that when a power in substantially the form set forth in this Article is used, health care providers and other third parties who rely in good faith on the acts and decisions of the agent within the scope of the power may do so without fear of civil or criminal liability to the principal, the State or any other person. However, the form of health care agency in this Article is not intended to be exclusive and other forms of powers of attorney chosen by the principal that comply with Section 4‑5 of this Article may offer powers and protection similar to the statutory short form power of attorney for health care.
(Source: P.A. 85‑1395.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑2) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑2)
    Sec. 4‑2. Short Title. This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Powers of Attorney for Health Care Law".
(Source: P.A. 85‑701.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑3) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑3)
    Sec. 4‑3. General principles. The health care powers that may be delegated to an agent include, without limitation, all powers an individual may have to be informed about and to consent to or refuse or withdraw any type of health care for the individual and all powers a parent may have to control or consent to health care for a minor child. A health care agency may extend beyond the principal's death if necessary to permit anatomical gift, autopsy or disposition of remains. Nothing in this Article shall impair or supersede any legal right or legal responsibility which any person may have to effect the withholding or withdrawal of life‑sustaining or death‑delaying procedures in any lawful manner, and the provisions of this Article are cumulative in such respect.
(Source: P.A. 85‑701.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑4)(from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑4)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 96‑1195)
    Sec. 4‑4. Definitions. As used in this Article:
    (a) "Attending physician" means the physician who has primary responsibility at the time of reference for the treatment and care of the patient.
    (b) "Health care" means any care, treatment, service or procedure to maintain, diagnose, treat or provide for the patient's physical or mental health or personal care.
    (c) "Health care agency" means an agency governing any type of health care, anatomical gift, autopsy or disposition of remains for and on behalf of a patient and refers to the power of attorney or other written instrument defining the agency or the agency, itself, as appropriate to the context.
    (d) "Health care provider" or "provider" means the attending physician and any other person administering health care to the patient at the time of reference who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized or permitted by law to administer health care in the ordinary course of business or the practice of a profession, including any person employed by or acting for any such authorized person.
    (e) "Patient" means the principal or, if the agency governs health care for a minor child of the principal, then the child.
(Source: P.A. 85‑701.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 96‑1195)
    Sec. 4‑4. Definitions. As used in this Article:
    (a) "Attending physician" means the physician who has primary responsibility at the time of reference for the treatment and care of the patient.
    (b) "Health care" means any care, treatment, service or procedure to maintain, diagnose, treat or provide for the patient's physical or mental health or personal care.
    (c) "Health care agency" means an agency governing any type of health care, anatomical gift, autopsy or disposition of remains for and on behalf of a patient and refers to the power of attorney or other written instrument defining the agency or the agency, itself, as appropriate to the context.
    (d) "Health care provider" or "provider" means the attending physician and any other person administering health care to the patient at the time of reference who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized or permitted by law to administer health care in the ordinary course of business or the practice of a profession, including any person employed by or acting for any such authorized person.
    (e) "Patient" means the principal or, if the agency governs health care for a minor child of the principal, then the child.
    (f) "Incurable or irreversible condition" means an illness or injury (i) for which there is no reasonable prospect of cure or recovery, (ii) that ultimately will cause the patient's death even if life‑sustaining treatment is initiated or continued, (iii) that imposes severe pain or otherwise imposes an inhumane burden on the patient, or (iv) for which initiating or continuing life‑sustaining treatment, in light of the patient's medical condition, provides only minimal medical benefit.
    (g) "Permanent unconsciousness" means a condition that, to a high degree of medical certainty, (i) will last permanently, without improvement, (ii) in which thought, sensation, purposeful action, social interaction, and awareness of self and environment are absent, and (iii) for which initiating or continuing life‑sustaining treatment, in light of the patient's medical condition, provides only minimal medical benefit. For the purposes of this definition, "medical benefit" means a chance to cure or reverse a condition.
    (h) "Terminal condition" means an illness or injury for which there is no reasonable prospect of cure or recovery, death is imminent, and the application of life‑sustaining treatment would only prolong the dying process.
(Source: P.A. 96‑1195, eff. 7‑1‑11.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑5) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑5)
    Sec. 4‑5. Limitations on health care agencies. Neither the attending physician nor any other health care provider may act as agent under a health care agency; however, a person who is not administering health care to the patient may act as health care agent for the patient even though the person is a physician or otherwise licensed, certified, authorized, or permitted by law to administer health care in the ordinary course of business or the practice of a profession.
(Source: P.A. 86‑736.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑5.1)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)
    Sec. 4‑5.1. Limitations on who may witness health care agencies.
    (a) Every health care agency shall bear the signature of a witness to the signing of the agency. None of the following may serve as a witness to the signing of a health care agency:
        (1) the attending physician or mental health service
    provider of the principal, or a relative of the physician or provider;
        (2) an owner, operator, or relative of an owner or
    operator of a health care facility in which the principal is a patient or resident;
        (3) a parent, sibling, or descendant, or the spouse
    of a parent, sibling, or descendant, of either the principal or any agent or successor agent, regardless of whether the relationship is by blood, marriage, or adoption;
        (4) an agent or successor agent for health care.
    (b) The prohibition on the operator of a health care facility from serving as a witness shall extend to directors and executive officers of an operator that is a corporate entity but not other employees of the operator.
(Source: P.A. 96‑1195, eff. 7‑1‑11.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑6) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑6)
    Sec. 4‑6. Revocation and amendment of health care agencies.
    (a) Every health care agency may be revoked by the principal at any time, without regard to the principal's mental or physical condition, by any of the following methods:
    1. By being obliterated, burnt, torn or otherwise destroyed or defaced in a manner indicating intention to revoke;
    2. By a written revocation of the agency signed and dated by the principal or person acting at the direction of the principal; or
    3. By an oral or any other expression of the intent to revoke the agency in the presence of a witness 18 years of age or older who signs and dates a writing confirming that such expression of intent was made.
    (b) Every health care agency may be amended at any time by a written amendment signed and dated by the principal or person acting at the direction of the principal.
    (c) Any person, other than the agent, to whom a revocation or amendment is communicated or delivered shall make all reasonable efforts to inform the agent of that fact as promptly as possible.
(Source: P.A. 85‑701.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑7)(from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑7)
    Sec. 4‑7. Duties of health care providers and others in relation to health care agencies. Each health care provider and each other person with whom an agent deals under a health care agency shall be subject to the following duties and responsibilities:
    (a) It is the responsibility of the agent or patient to notify the health care provider of the existence of the health care agency and any amendment or revocation thereof. A health care provider furnished with a copy of a health care agency shall make it a part of the patient's medical records and shall enter in the records any change in or termination of the health care agency by the principal that becomes known to the provider. Whenever a provider believes a patient may lack capacity to give informed consent to health care which the provider deems necessary, the provider shall consult with any available health care agent known to the provider who then has power to act for the patient under a health care agency.
    (b) A health care decision made by an agent in accordance with the terms of a health care agency shall be complied with by every health care provider to whom the decision is communicated, subject to the provider's right to administer treatment for the patient's comfort care or alleviation of pain; but if the provider is unwilling to comply with the agent's decision, the provider shall promptly inform the agent who shall then be responsible to make the necessary arrangements for the transfer of the patient to another provider. It is understood that a provider who is unwilling to comply with the agent's decision will continue to afford reasonably necessary consultation and care in connection with the transfer.
    (c) At the patient's expense and subject to reasonable rules of the health care provider to prevent disruption of the patient's health care, each health care provider shall give an agent authorized to receive such information under a health care agency the same right the principal has to examine and copy any part or all of the patient's medical records that the agent deems relevant to the exercise of the agent's powers, whether the records relate to mental health or any other medical condition and whether they are in the possession of or maintained by any physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, hospital, nursing home or other health care provider.
    (d) If and to the extent a health care agency empowers the agent to (1) make an anatomical gift on behalf of the principal under the Illinois Anatomical Gift Act, as now or hereafter amended, or (2) authorize an autopsy of the principal's body pursuant to Section 2 of "An Act in relation to autopsy of dead bodies", approved August 13, 1965, as now or hereafter amended, or (3) direct the disposition of the principal's remains, the decision by an authorized agent as to anatomical gift, autopsy approval or remains disposition shall be deemed the act of the principal and shall control over the decision of other persons who might otherwise have priority; and each person to whom a direction by the agent in accordance with the terms of the agency is communicated shall comply with such direction.
(Source: P.A. 93‑794, eff. 7‑22‑04.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑8) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑8)
    Sec. 4‑8. Immunities of health care providers, agents and others in relation to health care agencies. Each health care provider and each other person who acts in good faith reliance on any direction or decision by the agent that is not clearly contrary to the terms of a health care agency (a "reliant") will be protected and released to the same extent as though the reliant had dealt directly with the principal as a fully‑competent person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following specific principles shall also govern, protect and validate the acts of the agent and each reliant:
    (a) No reliant shall be subject to any type of civil or criminal liability or discipline for unprofessional conduct for complying with any direction or decision by the agent, even if death or injury to the patient ensues.
    (b) No reliant shall be subject to any type of civil or criminal liability or discipline for unprofessional conduct for failure to comply with any direction or decision by the agent that violates the reliant's conscience rights, as long as the reliant promptly informs the agent of reliant's refusal or failure to comply with such direction or decision by the agent. The agent shall then be responsible to make the necessary arrangements for the transfer of the patient to another provider. It is understood that a provider who is unwilling to comply with the agent's decision will continue to afford reasonably necessary consultation and care in connection with the transfer.
    (c) If the actions of a health care provider who fails to comply with any direction or decision by the agent are substantially in accord with reasonable medical standards at the time of reference and the provider cooperates in the transfer of the patient pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 4‑7 of this Act, the provider shall not be subject to any type of civil or criminal liability or discipline for unprofessional conduct for failure to comply with the agent.
    (d) No agent who in good faith acts with due care for the benefit of the patient and in accordance with the terms of a health care agency, or who fails to act, shall be subject to any type of civil or criminal liability for such action or inaction.
    (e) If the patient's death results from withholding or withdrawing life‑sustaining treatment in accordance with the terms of a health care agency, the death shall not constitute a suicide or homicide for any purpose under any statute or other rule of law and shall not impair or invalidate any insurance, annuity or other type of contract that is conditioned on the life or death of the patient, any term of the contract to the contrary notwithstanding.
(Source: P.A. 85‑1395.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑9) (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑9)
    Sec. 4‑9. Penalties. All persons shall be subject to the following sanctions in relation to health care agencies, in addition to all other sanctions applicable under any other law or rule of professional conduct:
    (a) Any person shall be civilly liable who, without the principal's consent, wilfully conceals, cancels or alters a health care agency or any amendment or revocation of the agency or who falsifies or forges a health care agency, amendment or revocation.
    (b) A person who falsifies or forges a health care agency or wilfully conceals or withholds personal knowledge of an amendment or revocation of a health care agency with the intent to cause a withholding or withdrawal of life‑sustaining or death‑delaying procedures contrary to the intent of the principal and thereby, because of such act, directly causes life‑sustaining or death‑delaying procedures to be withheld or withdrawn and death to the patient to be hastened shall be subject to prosecution for involuntary manslaughter.
    (c) Any person who requires or prevents execution of a health care agency as a condition of insuring or providing any type of health care services to the patient shall be civilly liable and guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 85‑701.)

    (755 ILCS 45/4‑10)(from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 804‑10)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 96‑1195)
    Sec. 4‑10. Statutory short form power of attorney for health care.
    (a) The following form (sometimes also referred to in this Act as the "statutory health care power") may be used to grant an agent powers with respect to the principal's own health care; but the statutory health care power is not intended to be exclusive nor to cover delegation of a parent's power to control the health care of a minor child, and no provision of this Article shall be construed to invalidate or bar use by the principal of any other or different form of power of attorney for health care. Nonstatutory health care powers must be executed by the principal, designate the agent and the agent's powers, and comply with Section 4‑5 of this Article, but they need not be witnessed or conform in any other respect to the statutory health care power. When a power of attorney in substantially the following form is used, including the "notice" paragraph at the beginning in capital letters, it shall have the meaning and effect prescribed in this Act. The statutory health care power may be included in or combined with any other form of power of attorney governing property or other matters.
    "ILLINOIS STATUTORY SHORT FORM POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
    (NOTICE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY IS TO GIVE THE PERSON YOU DESIGNATE (YOUR "AGENT") BROAD POWERS TO MAKE HEALTH CARE DECISIONS FOR YOU, INCLUDING POWER TO REQUIRE, CONSENT TO OR WITHDRAW ANY TYPE OF PERSONAL CARE OR MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR ANY PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION AND TO ADMIT YOU TO OR DISCHARGE YOU FROM ANY HOSPITAL, HOME OR OTHER INSTITUTION. THIS FORM DOES NOT IMPOSE A DUTY ON YOUR AGENT TO EXERCISE GRANTED POWERS; BUT WHEN POWERS ARE EXERCISED, YOUR AGENT WILL HAVE TO USE DUE CARE TO ACT FOR YOUR BENEFIT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS FORM AND KEEP A RECORD OF RECEIPTS, DISBURSEMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS TAKEN AS AGENT. A COURT CAN TAKE AWAY THE POWERS OF YOUR AGENT IF IT FINDS THE AGENT IS NOT ACTING PROPERLY. YOU MAY NAME SUCCESSOR AGENTS UNDER THIS FORM BUT NOT CO‑AGENTS, AND NO HEALTH CARE PROVIDER MAY BE NAMED. UNLESS YOU EXPRESSLY LIMIT THE DURATION OF THIS POWER IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BELOW, UNTIL YOU REVOKE THIS POWER OR A COURT ACTING ON YOUR BEHALF TERMINATES IT, YOUR AGENT MAY EXERCISE THE POWERS GIVEN HERE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFETIME, EVEN AFTER YOU BECOME DISABLED. THE POWERS YOU GIVE YOUR AGENT, YOUR RIGHT TO REVOKE THOSE POWERS AND THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE LAW ARE EXPLAINED MORE FULLY IN SECTIONS 4‑5, 4‑6, 4‑9 AND 4‑10(b) OF THE ILLINOIS "POWERS OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE LAW" OF WHICH THIS FORM IS A PART (SEE THE BACK OF THIS FORM). THAT LAW EXPRESSLY PERMITS THE USE OF ANY DIFFERENT FORM OF POWER OF ATTORNEY YOU MAY DESIRE. IF THERE IS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FORM THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, YOU SHOULD ASK A LAWYER TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.)
    POWER OF ATTORNEY made this .......................day of
................................
    (month)  (year)
    1. I, ..................................................,
              (insert name and address of principal)
hereby appoint:
............................................................
          (insert name and address of agent)
as my attorney‑in‑fact (my "agent") to act for me and in my name (in any way I could act in person) to make any and all decisions for me concerning my personal care, medical treatment, hospitalization and health care and to require, withhold or withdraw any type of medical treatment or procedure, even though my death may ensue. My agent shall have the same access to my medical records that I have, including the right to disclose the contents to others. My agent shall also have full power to authorize an autopsy and direct the disposition of my remains. Effective upon my death, my agent has the full power to make an anatomical gift of the following (initial one):
        ....Any organs, tissues, or eyes suitable for
    transplantation or used for research or education.
        ....Specific organs:..................................
(THE ABOVE GRANT OF POWER IS INTENDED TO BE AS BROAD AS POSSIBLE SO THAT YOUR AGENT WILL HAVE AUTHORITY TO MAKE ANY DECISION YOU COULD MAKE TO OBTAIN OR TERMINATE ANY TYPE OF HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING WITHDRAWAL OF FOOD AND WATER AND OTHER LIFE‑SUSTAINING MEASURES, IF YOUR AGENT BELIEVES SUCH ACTION WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR INTENT AND DESIRES. IF YOU WISH TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF YOUR AGENT'S POWERS OR PRESCRIBE SPECIAL RULES OR LIMIT THE POWER TO MAKE AN ANATOMICAL GIFT, AUTHORIZE AUTOPSY OR DISPOSE OF REMAINS, YOU MAY DO SO IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS.)
    2. The powers granted above shall not include the following powers or shall be subject to the following rules or limitations (here you may include any specific limitations you deem appropriate, such as: your own definition of when life‑sustaining measures should be withheld; a direction to continue food and fluids or life‑sustaining treatment in all events; or instructions to refuse any specific types of treatment that are inconsistent with your religious beliefs or unacceptable to you for any other reason, such as blood transfusion, electro‑convulsive therapy, amputation, psychosurgery, voluntary admission to a mental institution, etc.):
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