HB574 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mac McCutcheon

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Minors, health services, cert. minors auth. to execute power of attorney for cert. health care purposes and advanced health care directives. Sec. 22-8-4 am'd.

Summary

Allows certain minors to appoint someone to decide their health care and to create living wills and other advance directives.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill lets eligible minors (14 years or older, or those who have graduated from high school, or are married, divorced, or pregnant) to: (1) appoint a durable power of attorney to make health care decisions for them if they become unable to decide themselves; and (2) execute a living will, a living will with a health care proxy designation, or an advanced health care directive. This expands the minor’s ability to control future medical decisions beyond just obtaining medical care. The appointment and documents would take effect when a physician determines the minor can no longer make decisions.

Who It Affects

• Eligible minors (14+ years old, or high school graduates, or married/divorced/pregnant) who gain the ability to appoint a decision-maker and execute advance directives.
• Designated agents (the person named to hold the durable power of attorney or health care proxy) and health care providers who would follow the minor's directives and decisions.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 22-8-4 to add authority for eligible minors to execute a durable power of attorney for health care decisions when the minor is incapacitated.
• Allows eligible minors to execute a living will, including a living will that designates a health care proxy, or an advanced health care directive.
• Requires the attending physician to determine when the minor is no longer able to give directions for health care to trigger the powers granted by the durable power of attorney.
• Effective immediately after passage and the Governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health