In the following summaries, “DPA” is substituted for “Durable Power of Attorney.” The acronym “UHCDA” is substituted for the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act, discussed previously. The reference to “combined advance directives” means that both living wills and proxy or power of attorney directives are authorized.

ALABAMA: Alabama has adopted an Act modeled after the UHCDA at Alabama Code of 1975, Sections 22-8A-2 to 11, enacted in 1997 (amended in 2001). Patients must be in a terminal condition or permanently unconscious. The state also has a DPA Act, Section 26-1-2, revised in 1997.

ALASKA: Alaska Statute Section 13.26.332 to.356 (specifically, 13-22.344(l) generally authorizes DPA for health care.

ARIZONA: Arizona has enacted a Comprehensive Health Care Decisions Act under Arizona Revised Statutes Annotated, Section 36-3231, dated 1992 and amended in 1994. All forms of advance directives permitted in the state are covered under Sections 3201 to 3262. State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

ARKANSAS: Arkansas has a Living Will Declaration Statute, Section 20-17 202 to 214. The 1999 Arkansas Laws Act 1448 (House Bill 1331) created a special DPA for health care.

CALIFORNIA: California Probate Code, Sections 4600 to 4948 (enacted in 1999) and Sections 4711 to 4727 authorize combined advance directives and a Comprehensive Health Care Decisions Act. There is a limitation on DPA power for civil commitments, electro-convulsive therapy, psycho-surgery, sterilization, and abortion. State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

COLORADO: Colorado law authorizes health care DPA under Revised Statutes, Section 15-14-501 to 509, enacted in 1992. A separate Surrogate Consent Act is at Section 15-18.5-103.

CONNECTICUT: Connecticut authorizes DPA and combined advance directives under General Statutes, Section 1-43 (1993) and Sections 19a-570 to 575 (1993). Reviewed but not amended in 1998.

DELAWARE: Delaware Code Title 16, Sections 2501 to 2517, revised in 1996 and 1998, authorize combined advance directives modeled after the UHCDA.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: D.C. Code Section 21-2210 (1998) covers the DPA for Health Care Act.

FLORIDA: Florida Statutes Annotated, Sections 765-101 to 404 cover the state’s Comprehensive Health Care Decisions Act, last amended in 2000.

GEORGIA: Appointment of a Special DPA is authorized under Georgia Code Annotated, Section 31-36-1 to 13 (1990, amended in 1999). It also has a separate Informed Consent statute under Section 31-9-2 (1998). In 1999, the state enacted the “Temporary Health Care Placement Decision Maker for an Adult Act” which basically expands the Informed Consent Statute. State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

HAWAII: Hawaii Revised Statute Section 327E-1 to 16 covers the state’s Comprehensive Health Care Decisions Act, modeled on the UHCDA. (1999, amended in 2000).

IDAHO: Idaho Code 39-4501 to 4509, last amended in 2001, authorizes the appointment of a Special DPA. Section 39-4303 contains the state’s Informed Consent statute.

ILLINOIS: (755 Illinois Compiled Statutes 45/1-1 to 4-12, amended in 1999, creates a Special DPA for health care. 755 ILCS 40/25 (1998) addresses the state’s Surrogate Consent Act, in the absence of an advance directive.

INDIANA: Indiana Code Section 30-5-1 to 5-10 authorizes a general DPA. Section 16-36-1-1 to 1-14 contains provisions for the Health Care Agency and Surrogate Consent Act.

IOWA: A Special DPA is authorized under Iowa Code Section 144B.1 to B12, enacted in 1991. A separate Living Will Statute is found at Section 144A.7 (1998).

KANSAS: Kansas Statutes Annotated, Sections 58-625 to 632, amended in 1994, create a special DPA for health care.

KENTUCKY: Kentucky Revised Statutes, Sections 311.621 to 643, amended in 1998, provide for a combined advance directive. A separate Living Will Statute is found at Section 311.631 (1999).

LOUISIANA: Louisiana Revised Statutes, 40:1299.58.1 to.10 (1999) provide for a Living Will (with proxy powers addressed in that statute).

MAINE: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 18A, Sections 5-801 to 817 (1995) create a combined advance directive authorization, modeled after the UHCDA. State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

MARYLAND: Maryland Code Annotated, Chapter: Health-General, Sections 5-601 to 608, (amended in 2000) permit combined advance directives.

MASSACHUSETTS: Mass. Gen. Laws Ann., Ch. 201D (1990) provides for the appointment of a special DPA.

MICHIGAN: MCL 333.3651 to 5661 provides for special DPA, with limitations on powers involving pregnancy.

MINNESOTA: Minnesota Statutes Annotated 145C.01 to.16 (1993) (substantially revised in 1998) provides for a combined advance directive. Section 253B.03(Subd 6b) provides for advance directives involving mental health patients.

MISSISSIPPI: Miss. Code Section 41-41-201 to 229 (1998 replacing 1990 law) provides for an combined advance directive modeled after the UHCDA.

MISSOURI: Mo. Ann. Statutes, Sections 404.700 to 735 and Section 800-870 (1991) create a special DPA and DPA for health care.

MONTANA: Montana Code Annotated, Sections 50-9.101 to 111, and 201 to 206 (1991) combine a Living Will statute with a health care proxy authorization.

NEBRASKA: Nebraska Revised Statutes, Sections 30-3401 to 3434 (amended in 1993) permit the appointment of special DPA for health care. Special limitations on the DPA power for pregnancy, life sustaining procedures, and hydration/nutrition.

NEVADA: Nevada Revised Statutes, Sections 449.800 to 860 provide for special DPA for health care. Section 449.626 (1997) contains the state’s Living Will Statute.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The state provides for a Special DPA under Statute Section 137-J:1 to J:16 (1991, revised in 1993).

NEW JERSEY: New Jersey provides for combined advance directives under Statute Section 26:2H-53 to 78 (1991). State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

NEW MEXICO: Statute Sections 24-7A-1 to 16 (1995, amended in 1997) provide for combined advanced directives modeled after the UHCDA.

NEW YORK: N.Y. Public Health Law, Sections 2980 to 2994 (1990) provide for the appointment of a special DPA. Additionally, Section 2695 (1999) adds a specialized Surrogate Consent Statute, for use in “do not resuscitate” (DNR) directives.

NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina General Statute 32A-15 to 26 (1993, amended in 1998) creates a special authority for DPA. Section 122C-71 to 77 (1997) addresses advance directives for mental health patients. Section 90-322 contains the Living Will Statute. State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

NORTH DAKOTA: Code Section 23-06.5-01 to 18 (amended in 2001) authorizes a special DPA for health care. There is a separate Informed Consent statute under Section 23-12-13.

OHIO: Ohio Revised Code Sections 1337-11 to 17, (1989, 1991) create authority for a special DPA for health care. A separate Living Will Statute is found at Section 2133.08 (1999).

OKLAHOMA: Title 63, Sections 3101.1 to.16 (last amended in 1998) provide for combined advance directives. There is a separate statute provision that addresses experimental treatments at Title 63, Section 3102A. State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

OREGON: Oregon Revised Statute 127-505 to 640 (enacted in 1989, amended in 1993) provides for combined advance directives. Sections 127.700 to 735 address mental health advance directives. Section 127.635 specifically addresses living wills.

PENNSYLVANIA: Pennsylvania has a Living Will statute found at Statute Title 20, Sections 5401 to 5416 (1993). A general DPA (not specific to health care) is permitted under Sections 5601 to 5607.

RHODE ISLAND: Rhode Island General Laws, Sections 23-4:10-1 to 12 (amended in 1998) permit a special DPA for health care decisions.

SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina Code Section 62-5-501 to 504 creates a special DPA for health care. Section 44-66-30 (1998) provides separately for the Surrogate Consent Act in the absence of an advance directive.

SOUTH DAKOTA: The state’s Codified Laws, Section 34-12C 1 to 8 and Section 59-7-2.1 to 8 (1990) provide for the appointment of a special DPA. There is a separate Surrogate Consent Act under Section 44-66-30 (1998).

TENNESSEE: Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 34-6-201 to 214 (1990, amended 1991) create the authority for special DPAs.

TEXAS: Texas Health and Safety Code, Sections 166.001 to 166.166 (amended in 1999) authorize a special DPA. In 1997, the state enacted its Advance Directive Act under Section 166.039. State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

UTAH: Utah Code Annotated, Sections 75-2-11-1 to 1118 (amended in 1993) authorizes a special DPA for health care. Since then, it has added its Comprehensive Health Care Decisions Act under Sections 75-2-1105 to 1107 (1998).

VERMONT: Statute Title 14, Sections 3451 to 3467 (1989) authorize the appointment of a special DPA for health care.

VIRGINIA: Virginia Code Sections 54.1-2981 to 2993 (1992, amended in 2000) provides for combined advance directives, including a version of a comprehensive health care decisions act at Section 54.1-2986.

WASHINGTON: Revised Code Sections 11.94.010 to 900 (1990) provide for general DPA, with limitations on power for electro-convulsive therapy, amputation, and psychiatric surgery. A separate Informed Consent statute is contained under Section 7.70.065 (1998). State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

WEST VIRGINIA: W. Va. Code Section 16-30-1 to 21 (2000) provide for combined advance directives, but mandate separate documents for living wills and medical powers of attorney. State law was impacted by the Supreme Court’s 2004 decision in Aetna.

WISCONSIN: Wisconsin Statutes Annotated, Sections 155.01 to 80 and Section 11.243.07 (6m) (amended 1998) authorize a special DPA.

WYOMING: Wyoming Statutes Annotated, Section 3-5-201 to 214 (specifically Section 3-209) (1991, 1992) authorize appointment of a special DPA. The identical statute is also contained at Section 35-22-105(b) (1998) but is referred to as the Living Will statute.