Pennsylvania § 5807 Rights and responsibilities

Pennsylvania Statutes

§ 5807 — Rights and responsibilities

Pennsylvania § 5807

Title 20DECEDENTS, ESTATES AND FIDUCIARIES

Ch. 58MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Subch.GENERAL PROVISIONS

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Bluebook

20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5807 (2026).

Text

(a)Declarants and principals.--Persons who execute a declaration or a mental health power of attorney shall have the following rights and responsibilities:

(1)For the purposes of this chapter, persons are presumed capable of making mental health decisions, including the execution of a mental health declaration or power of attorney, unless they are adjudicated incapacitated, involuntarily committed or found to be incapable of making mental health decisions after examination by a psychiatrist and one of the following: another psychiatrist, psychologist, family physician, attending physician or mental health treatment professional. Whenever possible, at least one of the decision makers shall be a treating professional of the declarant or principal.

(2)Persons shall be required to notify

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(a) Declarants and principals.--Persons who execute a declaration or a mental health power of attorney shall have the following rights and responsibilities:

(1) For the purposes of this chapter, persons are presumed capable of making mental health decisions, including the execution of a mental health declaration or power of attorney, unless they are adjudicated incapacitated, involuntarily committed or found to be incapable of making mental health decisions after examination by a psychiatrist and one of the following: another psychiatrist, psychologist, family physician, attending physician or mental health treatment professional. Whenever possible, at least one of the decision makers shall be a treating professional of the declarant or principal.

(2) Persons shall be required to notify their mental health care provider of the existence of any declaration or mental health power of attorney.

(3) Persons shall execute or amend their declarations or mental health powers of attorney every two years; however, if a person is incapable of making mental heath care decisions at the time this document would expire, the document shall remain in effect and be reviewed at the time when the person regains capacity.

(4) Persons shall give notice of amendment and revocation to providers, agents and guardians, if any.

(b) Providers.--Mental health treatment providers shall have the following rights and responsibilities:

(1) Inquire as to the existence of declarations or powers of attorney for persons in their care.

(2) Inform persons who are being discharged from treatment about the availability of mental health declarations and powers of attorney as part of discharge planning.

(3) Not require declarations or powers of attorney as conditions of treatment. Mental health treatment providers may not choose whether to accept a person for treatment based solely on the existence or absence of a mental health declaration or power of attorney.