2019 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 03 - Landlord-Tenant, Domestic Relations, Probate
Chapter 127 - Powers of Attorney; Advance Directives for Health Care; Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Registry; Declarations for Mental Health Treatment; Death with Dignity
Section 127.580 - Presumption of consent to artificially administered nutrition and hydration; exceptions.
(1) It shall be presumed that every person who is temporarily or permanently incapable has consented to artificially administered nutrition and hydration, other than hyperalimentation, that are necessary to sustain life except in one or more of the following circumstances:
(a) The person while a capable adult clearly and specifically stated that the person would have refused artificially administered nutrition and hydration.
(b) Administration of such nutrition and hydration is not medically feasible or would itself cause severe, intractable or long-lasting pain.
(c) The person has an appointed health care representative who has been given authority to make decisions on the use, maintenance, withholding or withdrawing of artificially administered nutrition and hydration.
(d) The person does not have an appointed health care representative or an advance directive that clearly states that the person did not want artificially administered nutrition and hydration, and the person is permanently unconscious.
(e) The person does not have an appointed health care representative or an advance directive that clearly states that the person did not want artificially administered nutrition and hydration, the person is incapable, and the person has a terminal condition.
(f) The person has a progressive illness that will be fatal and is in an advanced stage, the person is consistently and permanently unable to communicate by any means, swallow food and water safely, care for the person’s self and recognize the person’s family and other people, and it is very unlikely that the person’s condition will substantially improve.
(2) If a person does not have an appointed health care representative or an advance directive that clearly states that the person did not want artificially administered nutrition and hydration, but the presumption established by this section has been overcome under the provisions of subsection (1)(a), (b), (d), (e) or (f) of this section, artificially administered nutrition and hydration may be withheld or withdrawn under the provisions of ORS 127.635 (2), (3) and (4).
(3) The medical conditions specified in subsection (1)(b), (d), (e) and (f) of this section must be medically confirmed to overcome the presumption established by subsection (1) of this section. [1989 c.914 §16; 1993 c.767 §18a]
