Terms Used In Louisiana Children's Code 1551

  • Child: means a person under eighteen years of age who has not been judicially emancipated under Civil Code Article 385 or emancipated by marriage under Civil Code Articles 379 through 384. See Louisiana Children's Code 1552
  • Declaration: means a written and witnessed document voluntarily made by the declarant, authorizing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures for a child, in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter. See Louisiana Children's Code 1552
  • 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.

The purpose of this Chapter is to recognize the right of a parent or guardian to make a declaration pursuant to which life-sustaining procedures or other medical care may be withheld or withdrawn from certain terminally ill children and to authorize judicial review, if needed, by the juvenile courts of such decisions if a child‘s parents or physician cannot agree that the requirements of this Chapter have been met.  The procedures authorized by this Chapter are in addition to the existing remedies of Title VI.

Acts 1991, No. 235, §15, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.