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An Ohio Living Will is a written declaration that allows a person, known as a Declarant, to specify their healthcare wishes regarding specifically how they'd like to be treated if they are ever in a terminally ill or incapacitated state. Chapter 2311 of the Ohio Revised Statutes require doctors to follow the instructions listed in these documents, otherwise they must not prevent or hinder the transfer of care to another physician. These statutes also dictate that the Declarant must be a legal adult who is of sound mind. Furthermore, their living will must be signed and dated in the presence of at least two (2) witnesses, or a notary public who can attest to the Declarant's state of mind. Chapter 2311 also clarifies that a Declarant has the right to decide which treatments he or she may consent to but life-support cannot be withdrawn if the Declarant is pregnant and likely to have a live birth.
The first step that a Declarant will take to complete their living will document will be to identify themselves as the Declarant. This is accomplished by providing their name, address, gender, and telephone number. Next, the person charged with ensuring that the Declarant's wishes are followed, known as the Advocate, will be appointed. This will be accomplished by providing his or her first and last name, address, and telephone number. The next section will detail what treatments, procedures the Declarant will consent to. This section will also include details on the Declarant's physician and any anatomical donations. Once all the necessary information has been completed, the Declarant will sign and date the document, the declarant will have the living will witnessed by two (2) witnesses, or have it notarized before having the document made a part of his or her healthcare records.