An individual designated to make decisions regarding the providing, withholding, or withdrawing of life-sustaining treatment or artificially provided nutrition and hydration for another pursuant to Section 22-8A-4(b) shall make those decisions according to the specific instructions or directions given to him or her in the designation or other document or by the individual making the designation. In the absence of specific directions or guidance, the designated proxy shall make those decisions that conform as closely as possible to what the patient would have done or intended under the circumstances, taking into account the patient's personal, philosophical, religious and moral beliefs, and ethical values relative to the decisions. Where possible, the designated proxy shall determine how the patient would have weighed the burdens and benefits of initiating or continuing life-sustaining treatment or artificially provided nutrition and hydration against the burdens and benefits to the patient of that treatment.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 22 - Health, Mental Health, and Environmental Control.
Title 1 - Health and Environmental Control Generally.
Chapter 8A - Termination of Life-Support Procedures.
Section 22-8A-1 - Short Title.
Section 22-8A-2 - Legislative Intent.
Section 22-8A-3 - Definitions.
Section 22-8A-4 - Advance Directive for Health Care; Living Will and Health Care Proxy.
Section 22-8A-4.1 - Validity of Dnar Orders; Adoption of Rules.
Section 22-8A-5 - Revocation of Advance Directive for Health Care.
Section 22-8A-6 - Proxy to Comply With Instructions, Intent of Patient.
Section 22-8A-7 - Competency of Declarant; Liability of Participating Physician, Facility, Etc.
Section 22-8A-8 - Refusal of Health Care Provider to Comply; Penalties.
Section 22-8A-10 - Provisions of Chapter Not an Approval of Mercy Killing, Etc.
Section 22-8A-12 - Validity of Advance Health Care Directive Executed in Another State.
Section 22-8A-13 - Effect of Prior Declarations.
Section 22-8A-16 - Temporary Task Force for Establishment of Order for Ppel Care Form.
Section 22-8A-17 - Application of Order for Ppel Care Form; Liability.