- (a) An individual may create an advance health-care directive that addresses only mental health care for the individual. The directive may include a health-care instruction, a power of attorney for health care, or both.
(b) A health-care instruction under this section may include the individual’s preferences for mental health care, including preferences regarding any of the following:
- (1) General philosophy and objectives regarding mental health care.
(2) Specific goals, preferences, and wishes regarding the provision, withholding, or withdrawal of a form of mental health care, including all of the following:
- a. Preferences regarding professionals, programs, and facilities.
- b. Admission to a mental-health facility, including duration of admission.
- c. Preferences regarding medications.
- d. Refusal to accept a specific type of mental health care, including a medication.
- e. Preferences regarding crisis intervention.
- (c) A power of attorney for health care under this section may appoint an agent to make decisions only for mental health care.
- (d) An individual may direct in an advance mental health-care directive that, if the individual is experiencing a psychiatric or psychological event specified in the directive, the individual may not revoke the directive or a part of the directive.
(e) If an advance mental health-care directive includes a direction under subsection (d) of this section, the advance mental health-care directive must be in a record that is separate from any other advance health-care directive created by the individual and signed by the individual creating the advance mental health-care directive and at least 2 adult witnesses who satisfy all of the following:
- (1) Attest that to the best of their knowledge, the individual understood the nature and consequences of the direction, including its risks and benefits.
- (2) Attest that to the best of their knowledge, the individual made the direction voluntarily and without coercion or undue influence.
- (3) Are not the agent appointed by the individual.
- (4) Are not the agent’s spouse, domestic partner, or cohabitant.
- (5) If the individual resides in a nursing home or long-term care facility, are not the owner, operator, employee, or contractor of the nursing home or long-term care facility.
- (6) Are physically present in the same location as the individual.
70 Del. Laws, c. 392, § 3; 84 Del. Laws, c. 467, § 1