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H 2045

An Act relative to health care proxies

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tom Walsh

Massachusetts bill modifying health care proxy laws to clarify medical decision-making authority for incapacitated patients and their designated representatives.

Hearing scheduled for 04/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · H 2045

Legislative bill overview

H 2045 is a Massachusetts bill that modifies laws governing health care proxies—legal designations allowing someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. The bill has been referred to the Judiciary Committee and is scheduled for a hearing in April 2025. A new draft (H4329) was introduced in July 2025, suggesting substantive revisions to the original proposal.

Why is this important

Health care proxy laws directly affect end-of-life decision-making, medical autonomy, and family authority in critical situations. Changes to these laws can impact hospital procedures, elder care, and the legal clarity families need during medical crises. Massachusetts residents regularly rely on proxy designations for nursing home placements, organ donation decisions, and life-sustaining treatment choices.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of proxy authority: Disagreement over what medical decisions proxies can make (palliative care, experimental treatments, organ donation) and whether certain decisions require court oversight
  • Proxy appointment standards: Whether requirements for designating a proxy should be stricter (witness requirements, notarization) or more flexible to increase accessibility
  • Conflict resolution: How disputes between family members, proxies, and medical providers should be handled, and what role courts should play in mediating decisions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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