WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

Ch. 372

(3) THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE MEDICAL CONDITION, THE
TREATMENT, OR THE WITHHOLDING OR WITHDRAWAL OF TREATMENT RESULT IN
A SEVERE AND CONTINUING IMPAIRMENT OF THE DIGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL BY
SUBJECTING THE INDIVIDUAL TO A CONDITION OF EXTREME HUMILIATION AND
DEPENDENCY;

(4) THE EFFECT OF THE MEDICAL CONDITION ON THE LIFE
EXPECTANCY OF THE INDIVIDUAL;

(5) THE PROGNOSIS OF THE INDIVIDUAL FOR RECOVERY, WITH AND
WITHOUT TREATMENT; AND

(6) THE RISKS, SIDE EFFECTS, AND BENEFITS OF EACH TREATMENT
OPTION.

(E) "CERTIFY" MEANS TO DOCUMENT IN THE MEDICAL RECORDS OF AN
INDIVIDUAL.

(F) "COMPETENT" MEANS TO BE ABLE TO:

(1) RECEIVE AND EVALUATE HEALTH CARE INFORMATION;

(2) MAKE AND COMMUNICATE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT

INFORMATION; AND

(3) UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE DECISIONS.

(G) "DECLARANT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS EXECUTED A LIVING

WILL.

(H) "DECLARATION" MEANS A DOCUMENT, NOW KNOWN AS A LIVING WILL,
THAT WAS EXECUTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF § 5-602 OF THIS ARTICLE AS
CODIFIED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 1, 1993.

(I) "FEEDING TUBE" MEANS ANY CONDUIT THAT IS INSERTED INTO THE
BODY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE:

(1) FOOD OR OTHER NUTRIENTS; OR

(2) WATER OR OTHER MEANS OF HYDRATION.

(J) "HEALTH CARE" MEANS ANY TREATMENT OR PROCEDURE TO MAINTAIN,
DIAGNOSE, OR TREAT THE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION OF AN INDIVIDUAL.

(K) "HEALTH CARE AGENT" MEANS THE INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZED BY A
POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS TO MAKE A HEALTH CARE
DECISION FOR A PRINCIPAL.

(L) "HEALTH CARE DECISION" MEANS A MEDICALLY INFORMED CONSENT, A
MEDICALLY INFORMED REFUSAL OF CONSENT, OR A MEDICALLY INFORMED
WITHDRAWAL OF CONSENT TO HEALTH CARE.

(M) "HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER" MEANS:

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