Advance Directive Law and Administrative Rules

A comprehensive Advance Directive law ( Act 55) was passed in June of 2005. It required the Vermont Department of Health to promulgate Rules to establish certain forms and procedures for Advance Directives and other medical order forms. The focus of the Administrative Rules was an “optional” model Advance Directive, as well as physicians orders for life sustaining procedures, a model DNR (do not resuscitate) Order, procedures for following these orders and the establishment of an Advance Directive Registry with appropriate procedures to deposit as well as to revoke or suspend individual Advance Directives into this system.

VEN will provide updates and summaries of the process once it has concluded and will post the registry compatible model form. 

It is anticipated that the Advance Directory Registry will go on line in the early part of 2007. The VT Advance Directive Registry  Transmittal Letter, a necessary part of the process is as yet unavailable, awaiting approval by the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules.   When it is finally approved it will be posted on the Vermont Health Dept. website, www.healthvermont.gov (go to Rules and Regs - Advance Directives - Attachment A.) and the Ven website, sometime after the first of the year.  No copies will be accepted by the VT Advance Directive Registry without an approved Transmittal Letter.  

The VEN Advance Directive form is now available for downloading. It is also in the new edition of Taking Steps (Apr. 06). This new form replaces the two older forms, the "living will" and the durable power of attorney. Download pdf file , or Word Document

Download pdf file , or Word Document

The Physician Assisted Suicide Debate

Tools to help you understand the issue: definition of terms, personal or group worksheet, list of most frequently mentioned pros and cons, text of proposed Vermont legislation, links to other web resources on this issue. Click Here

New Publication Now Available
When you Must Make Medical Decisions for Someone Else

This new VEN publication describes situations and approaches to making decisons for someone else, whether you are a health care agent, guardian or family member deciding for someone you care about. $3.00 per copy plus postage/handling. For more information, call the VEN office at (802) 828-2909 or e-mail us. Order form