(a)  The legislature finds that adult persons have the fundamental right to control the decisions relating to the rendering of their own medical care.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 23-4.10-1

  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • 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

(b)  In order that the rights of patients may be respected even after they are no longer able to participate actively in decisions about themselves, the legislature declares that the laws of the state shall recognize the right of an adult person to make a written durable power of attorney which might include instructing his or her physician to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining procedures in the event of a terminal condition.

History of Section.
P.L. 1992, ch. 443, § 2; P.L. 1993, ch. 72, § 1.