Living Wills and Advance Directives in Washington

Washington's living will is called a 'health care directive' under the Natural Death Act. Any adult may make one to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment in a terminal or permanent unconscious condition. It must be signed and either acknowledged before a notary public or signed in the presence of two witnesses. Witnesses may not be related to the person by blood or marriage, entitled to any part of the estate, the attending physician or the physician's employee, an employee of a health facility where the person is a patient, or anyone with a claim against the estate. The statute provides a sample form the directive may follow.

Washington has no separate health care proxy form; a health care agent is appointed in a durable power of attorney under the Uniform Power of Attorney Act that expressly grants health care decision-making authority. The person's physician and employees of the physician or of a health care facility where the person receives care generally may not serve as the agent unless they are close family members.