Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 58 - Mental Health Care
Section 5843 - Construction

(a) General rule.--Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to:
(1) Affect the requirements of other laws of this Commonwealth regarding consent to observation, diagnosis, treatment or hospitalization for a mental illness.
(2) Authorize a mental health care agent to consent to any mental health care prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth.
(3) Affect the laws of this Commonwealth regarding any of the following:
(i) The standard of care of a mental health care provider required in the administration of mental health care or the clinical decision-making authority of the mental health care provider.
(ii) When consent is required for mental health care.
(iii) Informed consent for mental health care.
(4) Affect the ability to admit a person to a mental health facility under the voluntary and involuntary commitment provisions of the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.817, No.143), known as the Mental Health Procedures Act.
(b) Disclosure.--
(1) The disclosure requirements of section 5836(e) (relating to authority of mental health care agent) shall supersede any provision in any other State statute or regulation that requires a principal to consent to disclosure or which otherwise conflicts with section 5836(e), including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) The act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.221, No.63), known as the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act.
(ii) Section 111 of the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.817, No.143), known as the Mental Health Procedures Act.
(iii) The act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
(iv) Section 41 of the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985.
(v) The act of November 29, 1990 (P.L.585, No.148), known as the Confidentiality of HIV-Related Information Act.
(2) The disclosure requirements under section 5836(e) shall not apply to the extent that the disclosure would be prohibited by Federal law and implementing regulations.
(c) Notice and acknowledgment requirements.--The notice and acknowledgment requirements of section 5601(c) and (d) (relating to general provisions) shall not apply to a power of attorney that provides exclusively for mental health care decision making.
(d) Legal remedies.--An interested party may file a petition seeking a determination that following the directions in the declaration or the mental health power of attorney may cause potential irreparable harm or death. In that event, the court may invalidate some or all of the provisions and issue orders appropriate to the circumstances authorizing treatment. The courts shall issue an order within 72 hours from the filing of the petition.