{"abstract":"The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its regulation regarding informed consent and advance directives. We amend the regulation by reorganizing it and amending language where necessary to enhance clarity. In addition, we amend the regulation to facilitate the informed consent process, the ability to communicate with patients or surrogates through available modalities of communication, and the execution and witness requirements for a VA Advance Directive.","action":"Interim final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS","name":"Veterans Affairs Department","id":520,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/veterans-affairs-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/520","parent_id":null,"slug":"veterans-affairs-department"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2020/05/27/2020-10264.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"17","title":38}],"citation":"85 FR 31690","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective date: This final rule is effective May 27, 2020.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":[],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2020-10264","effective_on":"2020-05-27","end_page":31704,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2020/05/27/2020-10264.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/05/27/2020-10264/informed-consent-and-advance-directives","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2020-10264?publication_date=2020-05-27","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2020-05-27/2020-10264/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":15,"page_views":{"count":6839,"last_updated":"2026-07-28 12:15:07 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-05-27/pdf/2020-10264.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-10264.pdf?1590497129","publication_date":"2020-05-27","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2020/05/27/2020-10264.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"2900-AQ97":{"issue":"202204","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2900-AQ97/informed-consent-and-advance-directives","title":"Informed Consent and Advance Directives","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202204&RIN=2900-AQ97&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["2900-AQ97"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"AQ97(F) RIA to publish (8.2.22) Informed Consent and Advance Directives","document_id":"VA-2020-VHA-0013-0009"},{"title":"AQ97-Final Rule - Informed Consent and Advance Directives","document_id":"VA-2020-VHA-0013-0008"},{"title":"AQ97(IFR2) RIA to publish (2.4.22)  Informed Consent and Advance Directives","document_id":"VA-2020-VHA-0013-0006"},{"title":"AQ97-Interim Final Rule 2 - Informed Consent and Advance Directives","document_id":"VA-2020-VHA-0013-0005"},{"title":"AQ97-Interim Final Rule-Impact Analysis-Informed Consent and Advance Directives","document_id":"VA-2020-VHA-0013-0002"},{"title":"AQ97-Interim Final Rule-Informed Consent and Advance Directives","document_id":"VA-2020-VHA-0013-0001"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2900-AQ97/informed-consent-and-advance-directives","title":"Informed Consent and Advance Directives"},"comments_count":5,"agency_id":"VA","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=VA-2020-VHA-0013","supporting_documents_count":6,"docket_id":"VA-2020-VHA-0013","document_id":"VA-2020-VHA-0013-0001","regulation_id_number":"2900-AQ97","title":"AQ97-Interim Final Rule-Informed Consent and Advance Directives","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2020-07-28T08:30:07Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":31690,"subtype":null,"title":"Informed Consent and Advance Directives","toc_doc":null,"toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Alcohol abuse","Alcoholism","Claims","Day care","Dental health","Drug abuse","Government contracts","Grant programs-health","Grant programs-veterans","Health care","Health facilities","Health professions","Health records","Homeless","Medical and dental schools","Medical devices","Medical research","Mental health programs","Nursing homes","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Travel and transportation expenses","Veterans"],"type":"Rule","volume":85}