Mississippi Code Title 41. Public Health § 41-133-3

(a) If the patient is unconscious or otherwise incapacitated upon inpatient admission to the hospital, the patient's legal guardian shall have an opportunity to designate one (1) lay caregiver after the patient's recovery of consciousness or capacity, so long as the designation or lack of designation does not interfere with, delay or otherwise affect the medical care provided to the patient.

(b) If the patient or the patient's legal guardian does not designate a lay caregiver under this chapter, the hospital shall document that in the patient's medical record.

(c) If the patient or the patient's legal guardian designates a lay caregiver under this subsection (1), the hospital shall promptly request the written consent of the patient or the patient's legal guardian to release medical information to the designated lay caregiver in accordance with the hospital's established procedures for releasing personal health information and in compliance with applicable state and federal law.

(d) If the patient or the patient's legal guardian does not consent to the release of medical information to the designated lay caregiver, the hospital is not required to provide notice to the lay caregiver under Section 41-133-5.

(e) If the patient or the patient's legal guardian designates a lay caregiver under this subsection (1), the hospital shall record the designation of the lay caregiver, the relationship of the lay caregiver to the patient, and the name, telephone number and physical address of the designated lay caregiver in the patient's medical record.