The withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging intervention from a person in accordance with the decision of a medical power of attorney representative or surrogate decision maker made pursuant to the provisions of this article does not, for any purpose, constitute assisted suicide or murder. The withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging intervention from a person in accordance with the decisions of a medical power of attorney representative or surrogate decision maker made pursuant to the provisions of this article, however, shall not relieve any individual of responsibility for any criminal acts that may have caused the person's condition. Nothing in this article shall be construed to legalize, condone, authorize or approve mercy killing or assisted suicide.
Structure West Virginia Code
Article 30. West Virginia Health Care Decisions Act
§16-30-2. Legislative Findings and Purpose
§16-30-5. Applicability and Resolving Actual Conflict Between Advance Directives
§16-30-7. Determination of Incapacity
§16-30-8. Selection of a Surrogate
§16-30-12. Conscience Objections
§16-30-13. Interinstitutional Transfers
§16-30-15. Withholding of Life Support Not Assisted Suicide or Murder
§16-30-16. Preservation of Existing Rights and Relation to Existing Law; No Presumption
§16-30-17. No Abrogation of Common Law Doctrine of Medical Necessity