General information
A Health Care Directive (also called an Advance Health Care Directive) is a form that lets you say what kind of medical treatments you do or do not want if you are terminally ill or unconscious and cannot make decisions for yourself. It names a person to speak on your behalf and gives them guidance about your wishes.
Forms and instructions
Washington LawHelp has forms and instructions for:
- Advanced Directive for Health Care (Living Will)
- Advance Directive for Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED)
Freewill.com has an online interview that you can use to create a customized form:
Specific directives for mental health include:
- Advance Directive for Mental Health from Washington LawHelp
- Living With Dementia Mental Health Advance Directive from EndOfLife WA
If you are seriously ill or in very poor health, a POLST form can be used by your medical provider as a medical order to represent your wishes for future care.
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Chapter 4 pertains to Living Wills