North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 122C. Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Act of 1985 § 122C-4. Use of phrase “client or the legally responsible person”

(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, whenever in this Chapter the phrase “client or the legally responsible person” is used, and the client is a minor or an incompetent adult, the duty or right involved shall be exercised not by the client, but by the legally responsible person.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, whenever in this Chapter the phrase “client or the legally responsible person” is used, and the client is an incapable adult, the duty or right involved shall be exercised by a health care agent named pursuant to a valid health care power of attorney, if one exists, or by the client as expressed in a valid advance instruction for mental health treatment, if one exists. If no health care power of attorney or advance instruction for mental health treatment exists, the legally responsible person for an incapable adult who has not been adjudicated incompetent under Chapter 35A of the General Statutes shall be one of the persons listed in subdivisions (3) through (7) of subsection (c) of G.S. 90-21.13, to be selected based on the priority order indicated in said subdivisions (3) through (7).