The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 18 : Health
Chapter 231 : Advance Directives for Health Care, Disposition of Remains, and Surrogate Decision Making
Subchapter 001 : ADVANCE DIRECTIVES AND DISPOSITION OF REMAINS
(Cite as: 18 V.S.A. § 9700)-
§ 9700. Purpose and policy
The State of Vermont recognizes the fundamental right of an adult to determine the extent of health care the individual will receive, including treatment provided during periods of incapacity and at the end of life. This chapter enables adults to retain control over their own health care through the use of advance directives, including appointment of an agent and directions regarding health care and disposition of remains. During periods of incapacity, the decisions by the agent shall be based on the express instructions, wishes, or beliefs of the individual, to the extent those can be determined. This chapter also allows, in limited circumstances in which a patient without capacity has neither an agent nor a guardian, for a surrogate to provide or withhold consent on the patient’s behalf for a do-not-resuscitate order or clinician order for life-sustaining treatment. (Added 2005, No. 55, § 1; eff. Sept. 1, 2005; amended 2015, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2018.)
