What happens if a patient has been declared legally incompetent?

When a patient is declared legally incompetent, it means they are unable to make informed decisions regarding their own medical care due to a lack of mental capacity. In such cases, the law provides a framework for ensuring that the patient's needs are still met while protecting their rights.

A court-appointed guardian is authorized to act on behalf of the patient and can provide consent for medical treatment. This helps ensure that the patient still receives necessary care while their best interests are considered through a legally recognized representative. The guardian’s role is to make decisions that align with what the patient would have wanted if they were competent, or what is in the patient's best interest otherwise.

The other choices do not align with the legal consequences of a competency ruling. A patient declared incompetent cannot make their own medical decisions, as their ability to understand and weigh the information necessary for decision-making is questioned. A designated family member does not automatically gain authority to make decisions unless legally appointed, and the hospital does not have the authority to reverse a legal determination of competence without a new court ruling or sufficient legal justification.