# C.R.S. § 15-18-102: 15-18-102. Legislative declaration

> Colorado · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-102

## Section

- **Citation:** C.R.S. § 15-18-102
- **Heading:** 15-18-102. Legislative declaration
- **Jurisdiction:** Colorado
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** CO Code / Title 15 / Article 18 / Section 15-18-102

## Text

15-18-102. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that:

(a) Colorado law has traditionally recognized the right of an adult to accept or reject medical or surgical treatment;

(b) Recent advances in medical science have made it possible to prolong the dying process through the use of medical or surgical procedures;

(c) The use of such medical or surgical procedures increasingly involves patients who have a terminal condition or are in a persistent vegetative state, and lack decisional capacity to accept or reject medical or surgical treatment;

(d) The traditional right to accept or reject medical or surgical treatment should be available to an adult while he or she has decisional capacity, notwithstanding the fact that such medical or surgical treatment may be offered or applied when he or she has a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state, and lacks decisional capacity to accept or reject medical or surgical treatment;

(e) This article affirms the traditional right to accept or reject medical or surgical treatment, and creates a procedure by which an adult with decisional capacity may make such decisions in advance of medical need;

(f) It is the intent of the general assembly that nothing in this article shall have the effect of modifying or changing currently practiced medical ethics or protocol with respect to any patient in the absence of a declaration as provided for in section 15-18-104;

(g) It is the intent of the general assembly that nothing in this article shall require any adult to execute a declaration.

## Nearby sections

- [C.R.S. § 15-18-101 15-18-101. Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-101.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-102 15-18-102. Legislative declaration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-102.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-103 15-18-103. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-103.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-104 15-18-104. Declaration as to medical treatment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-104.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-105 15-18-105. Inability of declarant to sign](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-105.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-106 15-18-106. Witnessed or notarized declaration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-106.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-107 15-18-107. Withdrawal - withholding of life-sustaining procedures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-107.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-108 15-18-108. Determination of validity](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-108.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-109 15-18-109. Revocation of declaration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-109.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-110 15-18-110. Liability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-110.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-111 15-18-111. Determination of suicide or homicide - effect of declaration on insurance](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-111.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-112 15-18-112. Application of article](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-112.md)
- [C.R.S. § 15-18-113 15-18-113. Penalties - refusal - transfer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-113.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T15_A18_S15-18-102. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.