What are the laws regarding end-of-life decisions?
End-of-life decisions are an important topic in Elder Law in Kansas. There are a few key laws that govern decision-making in this area. The Kansas Life Care Decisions Act outlines the legal frameworks for end-of-life decisions, including the right of an adult to designate a healthcare surrogate for making decisions on their behalf if they are incapacitated. This Act also allows an adult to create a living will, which outlines their healthcare preferences if they become incapacitated. In most cases, the healthcare surrogate, as outlined in the Kansas Life Care Decisions Act, is given the legal authority to make medical decisions for the individual. In addition, the Kansas Uniform Health Care Decisions Act provides for the appointment of a guardian to make decisions about medical care if a person is unable to make their own decisions due to mental incapacity. This guardian must be approved by a court of law and must be in the best interest of the patient. Finally, the Kansas Death With Dignity Act grants terminally ill adults the right to request and receive aid in dying. This means that the terminally ill person can request medication to end their life in a humane and dignified manner. In order for the request to be granted, two independent doctors must determine that the patient is mentally competent and has six months or less to live.
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