Vermont Statutes Title 18. Health, § 9310. Powers of Commissioner as guardian

(1) The power to exercise general supervision over the respondent. This includes choosing or changing the residence, care, habilitation, education, and employment of the respondent and the power to approve or withhold approval of the sale or encumbrance of real property of the respondent;

(2) The power to approve or withhold approval of any contract, by or in the name of the respondent;

(3) The power to obtain legal advice and to commence or defend against judicial actions in the name of the respondent;

(4) The power to seek, obtain, and give consent to initiation and continuation of medical and dental treatment that best promotes the health, comfort, and well-being of the respondent, or to withhold consent for initiation or continuation of treatment which does not promote the health or well-being of the respondent. In exercising this power, the Commissioner shall be guided by the wishes and preferences of the individual. Any decision to withhold or abate medical treatment for an irreversible or terminal condition shall be reviewed by the Department's ethics committee. Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted as giving the Commissioner authority to consent to sterilization, lobotomy, involuntary administration of psychotropic medications, surgery of the brain for the purpose of modifying behavior, or electroconvulsive therapy for the respondent.