Living Wills/Health Care Directive (HCD)
A living will or advance directive is a document that allows you to provide instructions about medical treatment in the event of a traumatic injury or disease that affects your ability to make decisions for yourself. It is best done while you are in good health and can make the decision without the stresses of a final illness or injury.
While this is a relatively simple document specifically authorized by statute (RCW § 70.122.030), it should be thoroughly reviewed and tailored to the specific desires of the individual.
You can register your Health Care Directive, as well as your Power of Attorney, at The Washington State Living Will Registry. This service is free to Washington residents.
There is also an excellent pamphlet put out by the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle titled A Guide to Making Good Decisions for the End of Life. I highly recommed it.
A Health Care Directive should not be confused with a Physicians Order for Life Sustaining Treatment, or POLST. A POLST is generated by a health care professional, usually the doctor, NOT by an attorney. It is most appropriately completed when the end of life is near. The Health Care Directive gives direction (and the Power of Attorney gives authority) to the surrogate decision maker for input into the drafting and implementing of the POLST when the individual can no longer make those decisions independently.
Timothy E. Williams can answer your questions about living wills and help you prepare one if you so desire. |