Living Wills and Advance Directives in Kansas

Under the Kansas Natural Death Act, any adult may sign a declaration (living will) directing that life-sustaining procedures be withheld or withdrawn in a terminal condition. It must be in writing, signed by the person (or by another in their presence at their direction), dated, and either signed in front of two witnesses age 18 or older or acknowledged before a notary. A witness cannot be the person who signed for the declarant, a relative by blood or marriage, an heir or will beneficiary, or someone directly financially responsible for the declarant's medical care. It has no effect during a diagnosed pregnancy. The declarant must notify the attending physician. The statute provides the form wording.

Kansas uses a "durable power of attorney for health care decisions." It must be in writing, dated and signed, and either signed before two adult witnesses (who cannot be the agent, a relative, an heir or beneficiary, or someone financially responsible for the principal's care) or acknowledged before a notary. The principal's treating health care provider and its employees generally cannot be the agent unless related. The statute provides a form.