ACTIn ForceAct
Powers of Attorney Act 2006
41DAttorney may consent to principal’s participation in
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41D Attorney may consent to principal’s participation in
medical research
(2) An attorney authorised under a medical research power of attorney
for a principal may consent to the principal participating in medical
research only if—
(a) the research is approved; and
(b) the principal is not likely to regain decision-making capacity
before the latest time that the principal may meaningfully
participate in the research; and
Note An independent doctor must assess the likelihood of a principal
regaining decision–making capacity within the time mentioned
(see s 41F).
(c) the attorney is satisfied on reasonable grounds that—
(i) the research relates to the diagnosis, maintenance or
treatment of a condition that the principal has or has had or
to which the principal has a significant risk of being
exposed; and
(ii) the research may result in benefit to the principal or others
with the condition; and
(iii) the potential benefit to the principal, or others with the
condition, of participating in the research outweighs any
potential risk or inconvenience to the principal, or any
potential adverse impact on the principal’s quality of life;
and
(iv) participating in the research will not unduly interfere with
the principal’s privacy.
Note If a principal has made a health direction under the Medical Treatment
(Health Directions) Act 2006, when making a decision under this section,
the attorney must comply with—
(a) if the health direction is consistent with the power of attorney—the
health direction; and
(b) if the health direction is inconsistent with the power of attorney—
the document that was made most recently (see Medical Treatment
(Health Directions) Act 2006, s 19).
(3) If an attorney makes an application, the ACAT must give an opinion
or advice to assist the attorney to decide whether to give consent
under subsection (2).