H 1591
An Act relative to healthcare proxies
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill establishes a standardized process for creating and utilizing healthcare proxies in Massachusetts. It aims to ensure that individuals have a clear and documented way to designate someone to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so themselves. The bill seeks to clarify the roles and responsibilities of both the designated healthcare proxy and the individual granting the proxy.
Key provisions
- Designates a healthcare proxy to make medical decisions.
- Specifies the process for creating and documenting a healthcare proxy.
- Allows for the revocation of a healthcare proxy.
- Clarifies the healthcare proxy’s authority and responsibilities.
- Addresses the process for a healthcare proxy to access medical information.
- Requires healthcare providers to honor a valid healthcare proxy.
- Establishes guidelines for the healthcare proxy’s decision-making process.
- Defines the scope of healthcare decisions covered by the proxy.
Who is affected
- Individuals seeking to designate healthcare proxies.
- Family members and loved ones who may be designated as healthcare proxies.
- Healthcare providers and facilities.
- Legal professionals.
- The general public in Massachusetts
Notable changes
- Standardizes the process for healthcare proxies.
- Provides greater clarity on the roles and responsibilities involved.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Jr. Donald R. Berthiaume
Cosponsors
Jr. Donald R. Berthiaume
Kelly W. Pease
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.1591 194th (Current)
An Act relative to healthcare proxies
By Representative Berthiaume of Spencer, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1591) of Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr., relative to healthcare proxies. The Judiciary.
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenter: Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.
Tabs
Bill History Petitioners Committee Vote Committee Summary Hearing Attendance
Bill History
Displaying 6 actions for Bill H.1591
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 4/18/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 04/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| 10/14/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 04/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2 |
| House | Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order | |
| 3/26/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5281 (under House Rule 27) |
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