As Reported by the House Civil and Commercial Law Committee

125th General Assembly
Regular Session
2003-2004
Am. H. B. No. 72


Representatives Oelslager, C. Evans, Hartnett, Hollister, Miller, Olman, Seitz, Ujvagi, Latta, Book, Harwood, Core, Willamowski, Schlichter, Beatty 



A BILL
To amend sections 1337.11 and 1337.14 and to enact1
sections 2135.01 to 2135.14 of the Revised Code to2
permit the execution of a Declaration for Mental3
Health Treatment.4


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1. That sections 1337.11 and 1337.14 be amended and5
sections 2135.01, 2135.02, 2135.03, 2135.04, 2135.05, 2135.06,6
2135.07, 2135.08, 2135.09, 2135.10, 2135.11, 2135.12, 2135.13, and 7
2135.14 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:8

       Sec. 1337.11.  As used in sections 1337.11 to 1337.17 of the9
Revised Code:10

       (A) "Adult" means a person who is eighteen years of age or11
older.12

       (B) "Attending physician" means the physician to whom a13
principal or the family of a principal has assigned primary14
responsibility for the treatment or care of the principal or, if15
the responsibility has not been assigned, the physician who has16
accepted that responsibility.17

       (C) "Comfort care" means any of the following:18

       (1) Nutrition when administered to diminish the pain or19
discomfort of a principal, but not to postpone death;20

       (2) Hydration when administered to diminish the pain or21
discomfort of a principal, but not to postpone death;22

       (3) Any other medical or nursing procedure, treatment,23
intervention, or other measure that is taken to diminish the pain24
or discomfort of a principal, but not to postpone death.25

       (D) "Consulting physician" means a physician who, in26
conjunction with the attending physician of a principal, makes one27
or more determinations that are required to be made by the28
attending physician, or to be made by the attending physician and29
one other physician, by an applicable provision of sections30
1337.11 to 1337.17 of the Revised Code, to a reasonable degree of31
medical certainty and in accordance with reasonable medical32
standards.33

       (E) "Declaration for mental health treatment" has the same34
meaning as in section 2135.01 of the Revised Code.35

       (F) "Guardian" means a person appointed by a probate court36
pursuant to Chapter 2111. of the Revised Code to have the care and37
management of the person of an incompetent.38

       (F)(G) "Health care" means any care, treatment, service, or39
procedure to maintain, diagnose, or treat an individual's physical40
or mental condition or physical or mental health.41

       (G)(H) "Health care decision" means informed consent, refusal42
to give informed consent, or withdrawal of informed consent to43
health care.44

       (H)(I) "Health care facility" means any of the following:45

       (1) A hospital;46

       (2) A hospice care program or other institution that47
specializes in comfort care of patients in a terminal condition or48
in a permanently unconscious state;49

       (3) A nursing home;50

       (4) A home health agency;51

       (5) An intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded;52

       (6) A regulated community mental health organization.53

       (I)(J) "Health care personnel" means physicians, nurses,54
physician assistants, emergency medical technicians-basic,55
emergency medical technicians-intermediate, emergency medical56
technicians-paramedic, medical technicians, dietitians, other57
authorized persons acting under the direction of an attending58
physician, and administrators of health care facilities.59

       (J)(K) "Home health agency" has the same meaning as in60
section 3701.885101.61 of the Revised Code.61

       (K)(L) "Hospice care program" has the same meaning as in62
section 3712.01 of the Revised Code.63

       (L)(M) "Hospital" has the same meanings as in sections64
2108.01, 3701.01, and 5122.01 of the Revised Code.65

       (M)(N) "Hydration" means fluids that are artificially or66
technologically administered.67

       (N)(O) "Incompetent" has the same meaning as in section68
2111.01 of the Revised Code.69

       (O)(P) "Intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded"70
has the same meaning as in section 5111.20 of the Revised Code.71

       (P)(Q) "Life-sustaining treatment" means any medical72
procedure, treatment, intervention, or other measure that, when73
administered to a principal, will serve principally to prolong the74
process of dying.75

       (Q)(R) "Medical claim" has the same meaning as in section76
2305.112305.113 of the Revised Code.77

       (S) "Mental health treatment" has the same meaning as in78
section 2135.01 of the Revised Code.79

       (R)(T) "Nursing home" has the same meaning as in section80
3721.01 of the Revised Code.81

       (S)(U) "Nutrition" means sustenance that is artificially or82
technologically administered.83

       (T)(V) "Permanently unconscious state" means a state of84
permanent unconsciousness in a principal that, to a reasonable85
degree of medical certainty as determined in accordance with86
reasonable medical standards by the principal's attending87
physician and one other physician who has examined the principal,88
is characterized by both of the following:89

       (1) Irreversible unawareness of one's being and environment.90

       (2) Total loss of cerebral cortical functioning, resulting in 91
the principal having no capacity to experience pain or suffering.92

       (U)(W) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of93
the Revised Code and additionally includes political subdivisions94
and governmental agencies, boards, commissions, departments,95
institutions, offices, and other instrumentalities.96

       (V)(X) "Physician" means a person who is authorized under97
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery98
or osteopathic medicine and surgery.99

       (W)(Y) "Political subdivision" and "state" have the same100
meanings as in section 2744.01 of the Revised Code.101

       (X)(Z) "Professional disciplinary action" means action taken102
by the board or other entity that regulates the professional103
conduct of health care personnel, including the state medical104
board and the board of nursing.105

       (Y)(AA) "Regulated community mental health organization" 106
means a residential facility as defined and licensed under section 107
5119.22 of the Revised Code or a community mental health agency as 108
defined in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code.109

        (BB) "Terminal condition" means an irreversible, incurable,110
and untreatable condition caused by disease, illness, or injury111
from which, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as112
determined in accordance with reasonable medical standards by a113
principal's attending physician and one other physician who has114
examined the principal, both of the following apply:115

       (1) There can be no recovery.116

       (2) Death is likely to occur within a relatively short time117
if life-sustaining treatment is not administered.118

       (Z)(CC) "Tort action" means a civil action for damages for119
injury, death, or loss to person or property, other than a civil120
action for damages for a breach of contract or another agreement121
between persons.122

       Sec. 1337.14.  (A) A principal who creates a valid durable123
power of attorney for health care may revoke that instrument or124
the designation of the attorney in fact under it.125

       The principal may so revoke at any time and in any manner,126
except that the principal may not revoke the instrument or the127
designation if the principal has lost the capacity to make128
informed health care decisions for the principal. The revocation129
shall be effective when the principal expresses hisan intention130
to so revoke, except that, if the principal made histhe131
principal's attending physician aware of the durable power of132
attorney for health care, the revocation shall be effective upon133
its communication to the attending physician by the principal134
himself, a witness to the revocation, or other health care135
personnel to whom the revocation is communicated by such a136
witness. Absent actual knowledge to the contrary, the attending137
physician of the principal and other health care personnel who are138
informed of the revocation of a durable power of attorney for139
health care by an alleged witness may rely on the information and140
act in accordance with the revocation.141

       (B) Upon the communication as described in division (A) of142
this section to the attending physician of a principal of the fact143
that histhe principal's durable power of attorney for health care144
has been revoked, the attending physician or other health care145
personnel acting under the direction of the attending physician146
shall make the fact a part of the principal's medical record.147

       (C) Unless the instrument provides otherwise, a valid durable 148
power of attorney for health care revokes a prior, valid durable 149
power of attorney for health care.150

       (D) Regardless of when the declaration is drafted, the151
execution of a declaration for mental health treatment does not152
revoke a valid durable power of attorney for health care. A153
declaration for mental health treatment executed in accordance154
with Chapter 2135. of the Revised Code supersedes a valid durable155
power of attorney for health care with regard to mental health156
treatment and the designation of a proxy to make decisions157
regarding mental health treatment.158

       Sec. 2135.01. As used in sections 2135.01 to 2135.14 of the159
Revised Code:160

       (A) "Adult" means a person who is eighteen years of age or 161
older.162

       (B) "Capacity to consent to mental health treatment163
decisions" means the functional ability to understand information164
about the risks of, benefits of, and alternatives to the proposed165
mental health treatment, to rationally use that information, to166
appreciate how that information applies to the declarant, and to167
express a choice about the proposed treatment.168

       (C) "Declarant" means an adult who has executed a declaration169
for mental health treatment in accordance with this chapter.170

       (D) "Declaration for mental health treatment" or171
"declaration" means a written document declaring preferences or172
instructions regarding mental health treatment executed in173
accordance with this chapter.174

        (E) "Designated physician" means the physician the declarant 175
has named in a declaration for mental health treatment and has 176
assigned the primary responsibility for the declarant's mental 177
health treatment or, if the declarant has not so named a178
physician, the physician who has accepted that responsibility.179

       (F) "Guardian" means a person appointed by a probate court180
pursuant to Chapter 2111. of the Revised Code to have the care and181
management of the person of an incompetent.182

        (G) "Health care" means any care, treatment, service, or183
procedure to maintain, diagnose, or treat an individual's physical184
or mental condition or physical or mental health.185

       (H) "Health care facility" has the same meaning as in section 186
1337.11 of the Revised Code.187

        (I) "Incompetent" has the same meaning as in section 2111.01 188
of the Revised Code.189

        (J) "Informed consent" means consent voluntarily given by a190
person after a sufficient explanation and disclosure of the191
subject matter involved to enable that person to have a general192
understanding of the nature, purpose, and goal of the treatment or193
procedures, including the substantial risks and hazards inherent194
in the proposed treatment or procedures and any alternative195
treatment or procedures, and to make a knowing health care196
decision without coercion or undue influence.197

        (K) "Medical record" means any document or combination of 198
documents that pertains to a declarant's medical history, 199
diagnosis, prognosis, or medical condition and that is generated 200
and maintained in the process of the declarant's health care.201

        (L) "Mental health treatment" means any care, treatment,202
service, or procedure to maintain, diagnose, or treat an203
individual's mental condition or mental health, including, but not204
limited to, electroconvulsive or other convulsive treatment,205
treatment of mental illness with medication, and admission to and206
retention in a health care facility.207

       (M) "Mental health treatment decision" means informed208
consent, refusal to give informed consent, or withdrawal of209
informed consent to mental health treatment.210

        (N) "Mental health treatment provider" means physicians,211
physician assistants, psychologists, licensed independent social212
workers, licensed professional clinical counselors, and213
psychiatric nurses.214

        (O) "Physician" means a person who is authorized under215
Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery216
or osteopathic medicine and surgery.217

        (P) "Professional disciplinary action" means action taken by 218
the board or other entity that regulates the professional conduct 219
of health care personnel, including, but not limited to, the state 220
medical board, the state board of psychology, and the state board 221
of nursing.222

       (Q) "Proxy" means an adult designated to make mental health223
treatment decisions for a declarant under a valid declaration for224
mental health treatment.225

        (R) "Psychiatric nurse" means a registered nurse who holds a 226
master's degree or doctorate in nursing with a specialization in227
psychiatric nursing.228

        (S) "Psychiatrist" has the same meaning as in section 5122.01 229
of the Revised Code.230

        (T) "Psychologist" has the same meaning as in section 4732.01 231
of the Revised Code.232

        (U) "Registered nurse" has the same meaning as in section233
4723.01 of the Revised Code.234

       (V) "Tort action" means a civil action for damages for235
injury, death, or loss to person or property, other than a civil236
action for damages for a breach of contract or another agreement237
between persons.238

       Sec. 2135.02. (A) An adult who has the capacity to consent to 239
mental health treatment decisions voluntarily may execute at any 240
time a declaration governing the use or continuation, or the241
withholding or withdrawal, of mental health treatment. The242
declaration shall be signed at the end by the declarant, state the243
date of its execution, and either be witnessed or be acknowledged244
in accordance with section 2135.06 of the Revised Code. The245
declaration may include a designation by the declarant of a person246
to act as a proxy to make decisions regarding mental health247
treatment pursuant to the declaration, and, if the declaration248
includes a designation of a proxy, the declaration shall be signed249
at the end by the designated proxy. The declarant may also250
specifically designate in the declaration an alternate proxy to251
act in that role if the original proxy is unable or unwilling to252
act at any time, and, if the declaration includes a designation of 253
an alternate proxy, the declaration shall be signed at the end by 254
the designated alternate proxy. The declarant may name in the 255
declaration a physician and assign the physician the primary 256
responsibility for the declarant's mental health treatment. The 257
declaration may include a specific authorization for the use or 258
continuation, or the withholding or withdrawal, of mental health 259
treatment.260

       (B) A mental health treatment provider or a health care 261
facility providing services to a declarant shall continue to262
obtain the declarant's informed consent to all mental health263
treatment decisions if the declarant has the capacity to consent264
to mental health treatment decisions.265

       Sec. 2135.03. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this 266
division and subject to division (C) of this section, a 267
declaration for mental health treatment remains valid and 268
effective for three years after its execution unless it is 269
properly revoked. A declaration for mental health treatment may 270
become operative as provided in section 2135.04 of the Revised 271
Code. If the declaration becomes operative, the authority of a 272
proxy named in the declaration continues in effect as long as the 273
declaration designating the proxy is in effect or until the proxy 274
has withdrawn. If a declaration for mental health treatment has275
become operative and is in effect at the expiration of three years276
after its execution, the declaration remains effective until the277
declarant has the capacity to consent to mental health treatment278
decisions. If a declaration for mental health treatment has not279
become operative at the expiration of three years after its280
execution, the declaration may be renewed as provided in division 281
(C)(1) of this section or remains effective as provided in 282
division (C)(2) of this section.283

       (B) A valid declaration may be revoked in accordance with284
section 2135.09 of the Revised Code or renewed in accordance with285
division (C) (1) of this section, but it shall not otherwise be286
altered or amended after it has been executed. A properly executed287
declaration is not revoked or invalidated by an alteration of or288
amendment to the declaration. Any alteration of or amendment to289
the declaration is not a part of the declaration.290

        (C) (1) A declarant may renew a declaration once, extending 291
the validity of the document for an additional three-year period 292
from the date of the renewal, by repeating the procedures set293
forth in section 2135.06 of the Revised Code, if the declarant has 294
included in the declaration a specific authorization for the use 295
or continuation, or the withholding or withdrawal, of mental 296
health treatment, and the declarant makes no change with respect 297
to that authorization. A declarant shall not make any changes to 298
any term or provision of the declaration when renewing under 299
division (C)(1) of this section.300

       (2) A declaration for mental health treatment that has not 301
become operative at the expiration of three years after its 302
execution remains effective if both of the following apply:303

       (a) The declaration designates a proxy or an alternate proxy.304

       (b) The declarant does not include in the declaration a 305
specific authorization for the use or continuation, or the 306
witholding or withdrawal, of mental health treatment.307


       Sec. 2135.04. (A) A declaration becomes operative when both309
of the following apply:310

       (1) The declaration is communicated to a mental health311
treatment provider of the declarant.312

       (2) The designated physician or a psychiatrist, and one other313
mental health treatment provider, who examine the declarant314
determine that the declarant does not have the capacity to consent315
to mental health treatment decisions. At least one of the two316
persons who make this determination shall not currently be317
involved in the declarant's treatment at the time of the318
determination. If a designated physician is named in the319
declaration and is not one of the two persons who make this320
determination, then the psychiatrist who makes the determination321
in lieu of the designated physician shall make a good faith effort322
to consult with the designated physician as soon as practicable.323

       (B) A mental health treatment provider for a declarant or a 324
health care facility providing services to a declarant shall make 325
a declaration part of the declarant's medical record and shall 326
note in that record when the declaration is operative.327

       (C) A mental health treatment provider for a declarant or a 328
health care facility providing services to a declarant shall act 329
in accordance with an operative declaration of the declarant330
consistent with reasonable medical practice, the availability of331
treatments requested, and applicable law. The mental health332
treatment provider or the health care facility shall continue to 333
act in accordance with an operative declaration until the 334
declarant has the capacity to consent to mental health treatment 335
decisions.336

       (D) An operative declaration of a declarant supersedes any337
general consent to treatment form signed by the declarant prior338
to, upon, or after the declarant's admission to a health care339
facility to the extent there is a conflict between the declaration340
and the form, even if the declarant signs the form after the341
execution of the declaration. To the extent that the provisions of 342
a declarant's declaration and a general consent to treatment form 343
signed by the declarant do not conflict, both documents shall344
govern the use or continuation, or the withholding or withdrawal,345
of mental health treatment for the declarant. This division does346
not apply if a declarant revokes a declaration after the declarant347
signs a general consent to treatment form.348

       Sec. 2135.05. (A) A declaration may designate an adult to act 349
as a proxy to make decisions about the mental health treatment of 350
the declarant and may designate an adult as an alternate proxy as 351
described in section 2135.02 of the Revised Code. A proxy352
designated to make decisions about mental health treatment may353
make decisions about mental health treatment on behalf of the354
declarant only when the declaration has become operative. The355
decisions of the proxy regarding the mental health treatment of356
the declarant must be consistent with desires the declarant has357
expressed in the declaration.358

       (B) The following persons may not serve as a proxy for a359
declarant:360

       (1) The declarant's mental health treatment provider, or an361
employee of the declarant's mental health treatment provider;362

       (2) The owner, operator, or employee of a health care363
facility in which the declarant is a patient receiving its 364
services or a resident.365

       (C) Divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply if366
the declarant and proxy are related by blood, marriage, or367
adoption.368

        (D) A proxy may withdraw from a declaration prior to the369
declaration becoming operative by giving notice to the declarant.370
If the declaration is operative, a proxy may withdraw by giving371
written notice to the declarant's mental health treatment provider 372
or the health care facility providing services to the declarant. 373
The mental health treatment provider or the health care facility 374
shall note the withdrawal of a proxy as part of the declarant's 375
medical record.376

       Sec. 2135.06. (A) A declaration for mental health treatment377
is valid only if it is signed by the declarant, states the date of378
its execution, and is either witnessed by two adults or379
acknowledged before a notary public.380

        If a proxy, or a proxy and an alternate proxy, have been381
designated in the declaration, then each proxy also shall sign the382
declaration, and the signature of each proxy shall be either383
witnessed by two adults or acknowledged before a notary public,384
except that, notwithstanding these requirements, both of the385
following apply:386

        (1) No declaration shall be invalid or be held invalid387
because a proxy has not signed the declaration.388

        (2) If a proxy has not signed the declaration, or if the389
signature of a proxy named in a valid declaration is not either390
witnessed by two adults or acknowledged before a notary public,391
then the designation of the proxy is invalid, but the declaration392
is not invalid because of the absence of a witnessed or393
acknowledged signature of a proxy.394

       (B) If witnessed for purposes of this section, a declaration395
shall be witnessed by two individuals as described in this396
division in whose presence the declarant and each designated proxy397
signs the declaration. Each witness shall subscribe the witness'398
signature after the signature of the declarant and, by doing so,399
attest to the witness' belief that the declarant appears to be of400
sound mind and not under or subject to duress, fraud, or undue401
influence. The signatures of the declarant and any proxy under402
this section and of the witnesses under this division are not403
required to appear on the same page of the declaration.404

       (C) If acknowledged for purposes of this section, a405
declaration shall be acknowledged before a notary public, who406
shall make the certification described in section 147.53 of the407
Revised Code and also shall attest that the declarant and each408
designated proxy appear to be of sound mind and not under or409
subject to duress, fraud, or undue influence.410

       (D) The following may not serve as a witness to the signing411
of a declarant's declaration:412

       (1) The declarant's mental health treatment provider or a413
relative or employee of the declarant's mental health treatment414
provider;415

       (2) The owner, the operator, or a relative or employee of an416
owner or operator of a health care facility in which the declarant417
is a patient receiving its services or a resident;418

       (3) A person related to the declarant by blood, marriage, or419
adoption;420

       (4) A person named as a proxy in the declarant's declaration.421

       Sec. 2135.07. (A) If a mental health treatment provider of a 422
declarant or a health care facility providing services to a 423
declarant is unwilling at any time to comply with the declarant's 424
declaration, the mental health treatment provider or health care 425
facility promptly shall notify the declarant and any proxy and 426
document the notification in the declarant's medical record. The 427
mental health treatment provider or health care facility that is 428
unwilling to comply with the declarant's declaration shall not 429
prevent or attempt to prevent, or unreasonably delay or attempt to 430
unreasonably delay, the transfer of the declarant to the care of a 431
mental health treatment provider or a health care facility that is 432
willing and able to comply or allow compliance with the 433
declarant's declaration.434

       (B) The mental health treatment provider of a declarant or a 435
health care facility providing services to a declarant may subject 436
the declarant to treatment in a manner contrary to the declarant's 437
expressed wishes only if either of the following applies:438

       (1) The declarant has been committed as a patient under439
Chapter 2945. or 5122. of the Revised Code, and, if the court440
knows of the declaration, the committing court acknowledges the441
existence of the declaration and specifically orders treatment in442
a manner contrary to the declaration.443

       (2) An emergency situation endangers the life or health of444
the declarant or others.445

       Sec. 2135.08. (A) The proxy under a declaration is not, as a446
result of acting in that capacity, personally liable for the cost447
of treatment provided to the declarant. Except to the extent the448
right is limited by the declaration or any federal law, a proxy449
has the same right as the declarant to receive information450
regarding the proposed mental health treatment of the declarant451
and to receive, review, and consent to disclosure of the452
declarant's medical records relating to that treatment. This right 453
of access does not waive any evidentiary privilege.454

       (B) In exercising authority under a declaration, the proxy455
has a duty to act consistently with the desires of the declarant456
as expressed in the declaration. If the declarant's desires are457
not expressed in the declaration, the proxy has a duty to act in458
what the proxy in good faith believes to be the best interests of459
the declarant.460

       (C) A proxy is not subject to criminal prosecution, tort or461
other civil liability for injury, death, or loss to person or462
property, or professional disciplinary action for an action taken463
in good faith under a declaration for mental health treatment.464

       Sec. 2135.09. (A) A declarant may revoke a declaration at any465
time the declarant has the capacity to consent to mental health466
treatment decisions. Any revocation of a declaration by a467
declarant shall be in writing, signed by the declarant, and dated.468
The revocation shall be effective upon its communication to the469
mental health treatment provider of the declarant or the health 470
care facility providing services to the declarant. If the471
declaration is operative, then the declarant may revoke the472
declaration after a designated physician or a psychiatrist, and473
one other mental health treatment provider, who examine the474
declarant determine that the declarant has the capacity to consent475
to mental health treatment decisions.476

       (B) Upon the declarant's revocation of a declaration, the477
mental health treatment provider or the health care facility shall 478
make the revocation a part of the declarant's medical record.479

       (C) A valid declaration for mental health treatment revokes a480
prior, valid declaration for mental health treatment.481

       (D) The probate judge of the county in which the declarant is482
located may revoke a declaration if the judge appoints a guardian483
for the declarant and specifically orders the revocation of the484
declaration.485

       Sec. 2135.10. A mental health treatment provider of a486
declarant, a health care facility providing services to a 487
declarant, or other authorized persons acting under the direction488
of either a mental health treatment provider of a declarant or a 489
health care facility providing services to a declarant who490
administer or do not administer mental health treatment according491
to and in good faith reliance upon the validity of the declarant's492
declaration are not subject to criminal prosecution, are not493
liable in tort or other civil damages for injury, death, or loss494
to person or property, and are not subject to professional495
disciplinary action resulting from a subsequent finding of a496
declaration's invalidity.497

       Sec. 2135.11. No person shall require an individual to498
execute or to refrain from executing a declaration as a criterion499
for insurance, as a condition for receiving mental health500
treatment or health care, or as a condition of admission to or501
discharge from a health care facility.502


       Sec. 2135.12. (A) A declaration executed in accordance with 504
this chapter shall not supersede a valid declaration governing the 505
use or continuation, or the withholding or withdrawal, of 506
life-sustaining treatment executed under Chapter 2133. of the 507
Revised Code.508

       (B) A declaration executed in accordance with this chapter509
does not revoke a valid durable power of attorney for health care510
created under Chapter 1337. of the Revised Code, but a declaration511
so executed shall supersede the designation of an attorney in fact512
made in a valid health care power of attorney under Chapter 1337.513
of the Revised Code with respect to the mental health treatment of514
the declarant. The designation of an attorney in fact in a valid515
health care power of attorney under Chapter 1337. of the Revised516
Code shall remain effective in all other respects.517

       Sec. 2135.13. (A) A person who opposes any decision arising518
under this chapter may make an application opposing the decision519
to the probate division of the court of common pleas of the county520
in which the declarant is located or in which the declaration was521
either witnessed or acknowledged as described in this chapter.522

       (B) If a declarant has not named any proxies in the523
declaration, or if all the named proxies have withdrawn or are524
unable or unwilling to act at a time when the declaration has525
become operative, then the physician who has the primary526
responsibility for treating the declarant may petition the probate527
division of the court of common pleas of the county in which the528
declarant is located to appoint a person to act as a proxy. If the 529
judge of the probate division of the court of common pleas finds 530
it to be in the best interest of the declarant, then the court 531
shall appoint a person to serve as a proxy for the declarant while 532
the declaration is effective. The person so appointed shall be a 533
person who is eligible to serve as a proxy as determined under 534
section 2135.05 of the Revised Code.535

       Sec. 2135.14. A printed form of a declaration may be sold or536
otherwise distributed in this state for use by adults who are not537
advised by an attorney. By use of a printed form of that nature, a538
declarant may consent or refuse to consent to mental health539
treatment and shall designate a proxy to make mental health540
treatment decisions in accordance with this chapter. The printed541
form shall not be used as an instrument for granting any other542
type of authority or for making any other type of designation,543
including those declarations that may be made under Chapter 2133.544
of the Revised Code or designations made under Chapter 1337. of545
the Revised Code.546

       Section 2. That existing sections 1337.11 and 1337.14 of the547
Revised Code are hereby repealed.548