Ch. 372                                     1993 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(2) AN INSTRUMENT OR PORTION OF AN INSTRUMENT THAT IS AN
ADVANCE DIRECTIVE APPOINTING A HEALTH CARE AGENT IS SUBJECT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6 OF THE HEALTH - GENERAL ARTICLE.

13-707.

(a) Persons are entitled to appointment as guardian of the person according to
the following priorities:

(1)     A person, agency, or corporation nominated by the disabled person if he
was 16 years old or older when he signed the designation and, in the opinion of the court,
he had sufficient mental capacity to make an intelligent choice at the time he executed
the designation;

(2)     A HEALTH CARE AGENT APPOINTED BY THE DISABLED PERSON IN
ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 5, SUBTITLE 6 OF THE HEALTH - GENERAL ARTICLE;

[(2)](3) His spouse;

[(3)](4) His parents;

[(4)](5) A person, agency, or corporation nominated by the will of a
deceased parent;

[(5)](6) His children;

[(6)](7) Adult persons who would be his heirs if he were dead;

[(7)](8) A person, agency, or corporation nominated by a person caring for
him;

[(8)](9) Any other person, agency, or corporation considered appropriate
by the court;

[(9)](10) For adults less than 65 years old, the director of the local
department of social services or, for adults 65 years old or older, the director of the State
Office on Aging or local office on aging, except in those cases where the department of
social services has been appointed guardian of the person prior to age 65.

13-708.

(a) (1) The court may grant to a guardian of a person only those powers
necessary to provide for the demonstrated need of the disabled person.

(2) THE COURT MAY APPOINT A GUARDIAN OF THE PERSON OF A
DISABLED PERSON FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF MAKING ONE OR MORE
DECISIONS RELATED TO THE HEALTH CARE OF THAT PERSON.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding the powers conferred to a guardian under subsection
(b)(8) of this section, AND EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS
SUBSECTION, where a medical procedure involves, or would involve, a substantial risk to
the life of a disabled person, the court must authorize a guardian's consent or approval
for:

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