Final answer:
If a mental health directive expires and the patient is incapacitated, the healthcare proxy or next of kin generally must make medical decisions in line with the patient's known wishes or according to state laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
If on the expiration date of a mental health directive, the patient is incapacitated, decisions regarding the directive typically fall to the healthcare proxy if one has been appointed, or to next of kin or legal guardians, depending on state laws. Validity of such directives and the procedures to follow can vary, and local legal statutes should be referenced.
Advance directives, including DNR orders, are legal tools designed to communicate a person's wishes regarding medical treatment when they are no longer able to express themselves. These directives are crucial for providing care aligned with the patient's wishes and ethical standards, especially during terminal illness or severe incapacitation. Healthcare proxies bear the responsibility to ensure that medical personnel adhere to these directives, even after expiration dates, unless a new directive is created or state law provides alternative instructions.