2013 New Jersey Revised Statutes
Title 26 - HEALTH AND VITAL STATISTICS
Section 26:2H-58 - Designation of health care representative; limitations.

26:2H-58 Designation of health care representative; limitations.

6. a. A declarant may execute a proxy directive, pursuant to the requirements of section 4 of this act, designating a competent adult to act as his health care representative.

(1)A competent adult, including, but not limited to, a declarant's spouse, domestic partner as defined in section 3 of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-3), adult child, parent or other family member, friend, religious or spiritual advisor, or other person of the declarant's choosing, may be designated as a health care representative.

(2)An operator, administrator or employee of a health care institution in which the declarant is a patient or resident shall not serve as the declarant's health care representative unless the operator, administrator or employee is related to the declarant by blood, marriage, domestic partnership or adoption.

This restriction does not apply to a physician, if the physician does not serve as the patient's attending physician and the patient's health care representative at the same time.

(3)A declarant may designate one or more alternate health care representatives, listed in order of priority. In the event the primary designee is unavailable, unable or unwilling to serve as health care representative, or is disqualified from such service pursuant to this section or any other law, the next designated alternate shall serve as health care representative. In the event the primary designee subsequently becomes available and able to serve as health care representative, the primary designee may, insofar as then practicable, serve as health care representative.

(4)A declarant may direct the health care representative to consult with specified individuals, including alternate designees, family members and friends, in the course of the decision making process.

(5)A declarant shall state the limitations, if any, to be placed upon the authority of the health care representative including the limitations, if any, which may be applicable if the declarant is pregnant.

b.A declarant may execute an instruction directive, pursuant to the requirements of section 4 of this act, stating the declarant's general treatment philosophy and objectives; or the declarant's specific wishes regarding the provision, withholding or withdrawal of any form of health care, including life-sustaining treatment; or both. An instruction directive may, but need not, be executed contemporaneously with, or be attached to, a proxy directive.

L.1991,c.201,s.6; amended 2003, c.246, s.29.