23-06.5-01. Statement of purpose

23-06.5-01. Statement of purpose Every competent adult has the right and responsibility to make the decisions relating to the adult's own health care, including the decision to have health care provided, withheld, or withdrawn. The purpose of this chapter is to enable adults to retain control over their own health care during periods of incapacity through health directives and the designation of an individual to make health care decisions on their behalf. This chapter does not condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing, or permit an affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life, other than to allow the natural process of dying.