Informed Consent and Advance Directives

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adopts as final, without changes, an interim final rule, as amended by a second interim final rule, that amended VA's regulation regarding informed consent and advance directives. VA amended the regulation by reorganizing it and amending language where necessary to enhance clarity; and made changes to facilitate the informed consent process, the ability to communicate with patients or surrogates through available modalities of communication, and the execution and witness requirements for a VA Advance Directive. VA has also clarified the roles and responsibilities of the practitioner and other members of the health care team pertaining to the informed consent process.