Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:225

  • advance directive: means a written document voluntarily executed by a principal in accordance with the requirements of this Part and includes a declaration or the appointment of a representative or both. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:221
  • Behavioral health: is a term used to refer to both mental health and substance use. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:2
  • Behavioral health treatment: means treatment of mental illness with psychotropic medication, admission to and retention in a treatment facility, or outpatient services. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:221
  • Incapable: means that, due to any infirmity, the principal is currently unable to make or to communicate reasoned decisions regarding the principal's behavioral health treatment. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:221
  • Physician: means an individual licensed to practice medicine by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:221
  • Principal: means an individual who has executed an advance directive for behavioral health treatment. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:221
  • Provider: means a behavioral health treatment provider. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:221
  • Treating physician: means the physician who has primary responsibility for the behavioral health treatment of the principal. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:221
  • Treatment: means an active effort to accomplish an improvement in the mental condition or behavior of a patient or to prevent deterioration in his condition or behavior. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 28:2

            A. An advance directive shall become operative when it is delivered to the principal‘s treating physician or other behavioral health treatment provider and shall remain valid until revoked or expired.

            B. The treating physician or provider shall act in accordance with an operative advance directive when the principal has been found to be incapable pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. 28:226. Notwithstanding the operative advance directive, the treating physician or provider shall endeavor to communicate with the principal regarding his proposed behavioral health treatment and even continue to obtain the principal’s informed consent to all behavioral health treatment decisions if the principal is capable of providing informed consent or refusal.

            Acts 2001, No. 755, §1; Acts 2017, No. 369, §2.