§ 5-601 Definitions
§ 5-601.1 Electronic signatures
§ 5-602 Procedure for making advance directive; notice to physician – Living wills
§ 5-602.1 Advance directive for mental health services
§ 5-603 Suggested forms – Living wills
§ 5-604 Revocation of an advance directive
§ 5-604.1 Anatomical gifts in advance directives
§ 5-605 Surrogate decision making
§ 5-606 Certifications by physicians
§ 5-607 Treatment without consent
§ 5-608 Authorization to follow emergency medical services “do not resuscitate order” in the outpatient setting
§ 5-608.1 Medical orders for life-sustaining treatment
§ 5-609 Immunity from liability; burden of proof; presumption
§ 5-610 Willful destruction, concealment, damage, etc., of declaration or revocation; penalties
§ 5-611 Medically ineffective treatment not required; mercy killing or euthanasia prohibited; construction of subtitle
§ 5-612 Petition by health care provider; court action
§ 5-613 Transfer of patient by health care provider who refuses to comply with advance directive or treatment decision
§ 5-614 Effect of declaration; suicide; insurance; declarations executed prior to effective date
§ 5-615 Provision of information
§ 5-615.1 Electronic advance directives – Duties of Department; outreach
§ 5-615.2 Public awareness campaign
§ 5-616 Preservation of existing right; advance directives executed before effective date
§ 5-617 Reciprocity
§ 5-618 Short title

Terms Used In Maryland Code > HEALTH - GENERAL > Title 5 > Subtitle 6 > Part I - Advance Directives

  • Administrator: includes an executor and a personal representative. See
  • Adult: means an individual at least 18 years old. See
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • County: means a county of the State or Baltimore City. See
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • gift: includes an inter vivos gift, inter vivos endowment, bequest, devise, legacy, or testamentary endowment of any interest in real or personal property. See
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • minor: means an individual under the age of 18 years. See
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
  • Personal representative: includes an administrator and an executor. See
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • state: means :

    (1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or

    (2) the District of Columbia. See
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.