Section 16. In those instances that a health care proxy has not been executed, nothing herein shall preclude a health care provider from relying upon the informed consent of responsible parties on behalf of incompetent or incapacitated patients to the extent permitted by law.
Nothing in this chapter shall invalidate a power of attorney delegating the authority to make health care decisions executed prior to the enactment of this chapter.
A competent adult's failure to appoint a health care agent or to provide the agent with specific health care instructions pursuant to this article shall create no presumptions regarding the adult's wishes about health care.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations
Chapter 201d - Health Care Proxies
Section 2 - Appointment of Health Care Agents; Execution of Proxy; Alternate Agents
Section 3 - Eligibility to Serve as Agent
Section 5 - Authority of Agent
Section 6 - Incapacity of Patient; Regained Capacity
Section 7 - Revocation of Proxy
Section 8 - Liability of Health Care Providers and Agents
Section 9 - Liability for Health Care Costs
Section 10 - Coercion; Execution of Proxy
Section 11 - Foreign Proxies; Enforceability
Section 12 - Suicide or Mercy Killing
Section 13 - Pain Alleviation; Comfort Care Procedures
Section 14 - Physicians; Refusal to Honor Proxy
Section 15 - Private Facilities; Refusal to Honor Proxy