This Act applies to patients who lack decisional capacity or who have a qualifying condition. This Act does not apply to instances in which the patient has an operative and unrevoked living will under the Illinois Living Will Act, an operative and unrevoked declaration for mental health treatment under the Mental Health Treatment Preferences Declaration Act, or an authorized agent under a power of attorney for health care under the Illinois Power of Attorney Act and the patient’s condition falls within the coverage of the living will, the declaration for mental health treatment, or the power of attorney for health care. In those instances, the living will, declaration for mental health treatment, or power of attorney for health care, as the case may be, shall be given effect according to its terms. This Act does apply in circumstances in which a patient has a qualifying condition but the patient’s condition does not fall within the coverage of the living will, the declaration for mental health treatment, or the power of attorney for health care.
     Each health care facility shall maintain any advance directives proffered by the patient or other authorized person, including a do not resuscitate order, a living will, a declaration for mental health treatment, a declaration of a potential surrogate or surrogates should the person become incapacitated or impaired, or a power of attorney for health care, in the patient’s medical records. This Act does apply to patients without a qualifying condition. If a patient is an adult with decisional capacity, then the right to refuse medical treatment or life-sustaining treatment does not require the presence of a qualifying condition.

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Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 755 ILCS 40/15

  • 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