§1159.9. Consent to surgical or medical treatment for persons with developmental
disabilities and residents of state-operated nursing homes
A. Upon the written recommendation of the treating physician, the following persons
may consent to any surgical or medical treatment on behalf of any person with a
developmental disability who is a recipient of service from a state-operated supported living
program or home- and community-based service provider, or who is a resident of a
state-operated residential facility, community, or group home for persons with developmental
disabilities, state-supervised extended family living program, or a nonstate-operated
residential facility, community, or group home for persons with developmental disabilities,
or who is a resident of a state-operated nursing home:
(1) For a resident of a state-operated residential facility, community, or group home
for persons with developmental disabilities, the administrator of the residential facility,
community, or group home.
(2) For a resident of a state-supervised extended family living program, or a recipient
of service from a state-operated supported living program or home- and community-based
service provider, the office for citizens with developmental disabilities administrator or
manager with administrative authority over the extended family living program, supported
living program, or home- and community-based service provider for the region where the
home is located or the program or service is being provided.
(3) For a resident of a nonstate-operated residential facility, community, or group
home for persons with developmental disabilities, the chief executive officer of the provider
organization which administers or operates the facility or home.
(4) For a resident of a state-operated nursing home, the administrator of the home
or facility.
B. Consent for any surgical or medical treatment on behalf of a person with a
developmental disability or a resident in a facility, home, or program as described in
Subsection A of this Section is authorized under the following circumstances:
(1) When all reasonable efforts to contact the parent, family, or guardian of the
resident have failed or
(2) When the resident's record does not contain the name of the parent, family
member, or guardian.
C. Consent given pursuant to this Section shall be in writing and shall comply with
the provisions of R.S. 40:1157.1. A copy of the signed written consent form and of the
physician's written recommendation shall be placed in the resident's permanent record.
D. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to authorize consent to
surgical or medical treatment for a resident if the parent, family member, or guardian of the
resident has been contacted and has refused to consent to medical treatment for the resident.
E. Consent to surgical or medical treatment for residents will be implied where an
emergency, as defined in R.S. 40:1159.5, exists.
F. Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, no person shall be
authorized to make a medical decision for an individual with a developmental disability
pursuant to this Section unless there is no decision maker reasonably available, competent,
and willing to act pursuant to R.S. 40:1159.4.
G. Repealed by Acts 2008, No. 839, §5, eff. July 8, 2008.
Added by Acts 1978, No. 607, §2; Acts 1990, No. 177, §1; Acts 2001, No. 519, §1;
Acts 2005, No. 128, §1, eff. June 22, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 839, §§3, 5, eff. July 8, 2008;
Acts 2012, No. 600, §2, eff. June 7, 2012; Acts 2012, No. 759, §2, eff. June 12, 2012; Acts
2014, No. 811, §22, eff. June 23, 2014; Redesignated from R.S. 40:1299.58 by HCR 84 of
2015 R.S.