(a)

power of attorney

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 34-6-402

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • In loco parentis: means "in the place of a parent" and refers to the legal responsibility taken by a person or organization to assume some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent or legal guardian. See Tennessee Code 34-6-401
  • Minor: means any person who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age and who has not otherwise been emancipated. See Tennessee Code 34-1-101
  • Person: means any individual, nonhuman entity or governmental agency. See Tennessee Code 34-1-101
  • 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
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) Health care decisions for an unemancipated minor child may be obtained from persons with authority to consent, including the appointed guardian or legal custodian, or the individual to whom the minor’s custodial parent or legal guardian has given a signed authorization to make health care decisions through a military power of attorney or a limited power of attorney for the care of such minor child.
(2)

(A) When an individual listed in subdivision (a)(1) is not reasonably available, the following persons may stand in loco parentis for purposes of making health care decisions for an unemancipated minor in order of priority:

(i) Noncustodial parent;
(ii) Grandparent;
(iii) Adult sibling;
(iv) Stepparent; or
(v) Another adult family member.
(B) The treating health care provider, an employee of the treating health care provider, an operator or employee of a health care institution, and an employee of an operator of a health care institution shall not stand in loco parentis.
(C) A person standing in loco parentis shall sign an in loco parentis affidavit under penalty of perjury stating that the person has taken responsibility for the health care of the minor child.
(D) The affidavit shall expire sixty (60) days from the date of execution, and may be extended an additional sixty (60) days.
(b) The decision of a person standing in loco parentis to make health care decisions for an unemancipated minor shall be superseded by a prior or subsequent, timely given, contravening decision of the minor’s custodial parent, legal custodian, or legal guardian.
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