KRS 202A.422: Advance directive for mental health treatment -- Scope -- Witnesses,
Where this section sits in the code
- KRS Chapter 202A
notaries, and persons authorized to administer oaths -- Effect -- Notification to
health care provider and health care facility -- Exemptions from criminal
prosecution and civil liability.
(1) An adult may execute an advance directive for mental health treatment that includes
one (1) or more of the following:
(a) Refusal of specific psychotropic medications, but not an entire class of
psychotropic medications. This refusal m ay be due to factors that include but
are not limited to their lack of efficacy, known drug sensitivity, or previous
experience of adverse reactions;
(b) Refusal of electric shock therapy (ECT);
(c) Stated preferences for psychotropic medications;
(d) Stated preferences for procedures for emergency interventions; and
(e) Provision of information in any area specified by the grantor.
(2) The execution of an advance directive shall be complete when signed by the grantor
and:
(a) Signed by two (2) adult witnesses who attest that the grantor:
1. Is known to them;
2. Signed the advance directive in their presence; and
3. Did not appear to be under duress, fraud, or undue influence; or
(b) Acknowledged before a notary public or other person authorized to administer
oaths.
(3) The following persons shall not serve as a witness, a notary public, or other person
authorized to administer oaths to the signing of an advance directive:
(a) The grantor's current health care provider or a relative of the current health
care provider; and
(b) An owner, operator, employee, or relative of an owner or operator of a health
facility in which the grantor is a client or resident, unless the owner, ope rator,
employee, or relative serves as a notary public.
(4) An advance directive shall not override the grantor's right under federal and state
law to refuse treatment.
(5) The grantor or the surrogate of the grantor shall be responsible for providing a co py
of the advance directive to the grantor's health care provider and health care facility
where the grantor is a patient.
(6) An advance directive for mental health treatment shall be honored in any setting,
except a hospital emergency room or a hospital emergency department, that is
required to honor advance directives under Title XVIII or Title XIX of the Federal
Social Security Act.
(7) A health care provider, health care facility, surrogate, or other responsible party
shall not be subject to criminal p rosecution or civil liability if acting in agreement
with an advance directive for mental health treatment executed in accordance with
KRS 202A.420 to 202A.432 or if acting in good faith without knowledge of the
existence or revocation of an advance directive.
Collected 2026-09-05T20:52:00Z. Source file · JSON