title: [The rights of family members to make medical decisions for their incapacitated relatives].
abstract: The new Swiss law concerning the protection of adults (replacing the law of guardianship) provides that everybody in a living will may specify which person(s) shall make the necessary medical decisions in case of the client's loss of capacity to decide. In the absence of a valid living will the active and lived community instead of formal (legal) relationship will decide who shall act as legally authorized representative with the power to make the necessary medical care decisions on behalf of the patient. Only if there is no one who would qualify for or accept this role, decisions will be taken by the new authority for adult protection.
authors: Max
authors: M
authors: Baumann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000941:ethics*; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000941:ethics*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000941:ethics*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000941:ethics*; D013557:Switzerland; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000941:ethics*