Maine Code § 24-2905

Informed consent to health care treatment
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
1. Disallowance of recovery on grounds of lack of informed consent. Recovery is not allowed
against any physician, physician associate, podiatrist, dentist or health care provider upon the grounds
that the health care treatment was rendered without the informed consent of the patient or the patient's
spouse, parent, guardian, nearest relative or other person authorized to give consent for the patient
when:
A. The action of the physician, physician associate, podiatrist or dentist in obtaining the consent
of the patient or other person authorized to give consent for the patient was in accordance with the
standards of practice among members of the same health care profession with similar training and
experience situated in the same or similar communities; [PL 2013, c. 355, §4 (AMD); PL 2025,
c. 316, §3 (REV).]
B. A reasonable person, from the information provided by the physician, physician associate,
podiatrist or dentist under the circumstances, would have a general understanding of the procedures
or treatments and of the usual and most frequent risks and hazards inherent in the proposed
procedures or treatments that are recognized and followed by other physicians, physician
associates, podiatrists or dentists engaged in the same field of practice in the same or similar
communities; or [PL 2013, c. 355, §4 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 316, §3 (REV).]
C. A reasonable person, under all surrounding circumstances, would have undergone such
treatment or procedure had that person been advised by the physician, physician associate,
podiatrist or dentist in accordance with paragraphs A and B or this paragraph. [PL 2013, c. 355,
§4 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 316, §3 (REV).]
For purposes of this subsection, the physician, physician associate, podiatrist, dentist or health care
provider may rely upon a reasonable representation that the person giving consent for the patient is
authorized to give consent unless the physician, physician associate, podiatrist, dentist or health care
provider has notice to the contrary.
[PL 2013, c. 355, §4 (AMD); PL 2025, c. 316, §3 (REV).]
2. Presumption of validity of written consent; rebuttal. A consent which is evidenced in writing
and which meets the foregoing standards, and which is signed by the patient or other authorized person,
shall be presumed to be a valid consent. This presumption, however, may be subject to rebuttal only
upon proof that such consent was obtained through fraud, deception or misrepresentation of material
fact.
[PL 1977, c. 492, §3 (NEW).]
3. Mental and physical competency. A valid consent is one which is given by a person who,
under all the surrounding circumstances, is mentally and physically competent to give consent.
[PL 1977, c. 492, §3 (NEW).]

‹ Prev All Maine sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.