NEW MEDICAL CONSENT LAW PASSED

The ACT Legislative Assembly has tonight passed laws to allow domestic partners, carers, relatives and close friends to give consent to medical treatment for adult patients who are temporarily or permanently incapacitated and unable to give their own consent, Attorney General Simon Corbell said.

"These new laws recognise the important role of a patient's loved ones when the patient needs, or is likely to need, medical treatment, and brings the ACT into line with other jurisdictions," Mr Corbell said.

"People who are authorised to give consent on behalf of a patient will be known as health attorneys.

"Not every family member or friend of a patient will be eligible to be a health attorney; a health professional must believe that the person selected to give consent is best able to represent the views of the patient.

"If a family member or friend is unsuitable to give consent, the health professional will try to find another eligible person, or seek the assistance of the Public Advocate.

"This new option will operate alongside other currently available options for obtaining consent for medical treatment for a patient who is unable to give consent.

"These new laws are the result of an extensive consultation process, and I sincerely thank the medical profession for its contribution to the development of the Government's proposals."