Del. Code tit. 16 § 2514

Current through 2024 Legislative Session Act Chapter 531
Section 2514 - [Effective 9/30/2025] Disqualification to act as default surrogate
(a) An individual for whom a health-care decision would be made may disqualify another individual from acting as default surrogate for the first individual. The disqualification must be in a record signed by the first individual or communicated verbally or nonverbally to the individual being disqualified, another individual, or a responsible health-care professional. Disqualification under this subsection is effective even if made by an individual who lacks capacity to make an advance directive if the individual clearly communicates a desire that the individual being disqualified not make health-care decisions for the individual.
(b) An individual is disqualified from acting as a default surrogate for an individual who lacks capacity to make health-care decisions if any of the following apply:
(1) A court finds that the potential default surrogate poses a danger to the individual's well-being, even if the court does not issue a Protection from Abuse order against the potential default surrogate.
(2) The potential default surrogate is an owner, operator, employee, or contractor of a nursing home or long-term care facility in which the individual is residing or receiving care unless the owner, operator, employee, or contractor is a family member of the individual, the cohabitant of the individual, or a descendant of the cohabitant.
(3) The potential default surrogate refuses to provide a timely declaration under § 2512(c) of this title.
(4) The individual has a pending Protection From Abuse petition against the potential default surrogate.
(5) The individual has a Protection From Abuse order against the potential default surrogate.
(6) The potential default surrogate is the subject of a civil or criminal order prohibiting or limiting contact with the individual.

16 Del. C. § 2514

Added by Laws 2023, ch. 467,s 1, eff. 9/30/2025.