A Washington Living Will is a document also known as an Advance Healthcare Directive that allows an individual to declare their end-of-life treatment if they ever fall into an incapacitated or terminally ill state. In this document, the Declarant, known as the person creating the document will detail which treatments, procedures, and other forms of care the Declarant will consent to. Not only will this document provide a list of consents and refusals, but it will also name specific treatments that the Declarant will consent to. For things not covered by the living will, the appointed Advocate will make a decision that he or she believes will reflect the wishes of the Declarant. Washington uses Chapter 70 of the Washington State Legislature to govern living wills implemented in the state. These statutes not only require all living will documents to be signed by the Declarant and two (2) witnesses, but they also provide provisions for easy revocation so the Declarant is not bound to anything he or she does not want. According to Chapter 70, Declarants may revoke a living will at any time regardless of their mental state.
The first step that the Declarant will take in order to complete their living will document will be to establish themselves as the Declarant. This step is satisfied by the Declarant providing their first and last name, their address, gender, and telephone number. Next, the Declarant will identify their Advocate by providing their name, address, and phone number. The next portion of this document will detail which treatments and procedures the Declarant will consent to. This section will also include details on the Declarant's physician and any anatomical donations. Once the information has been provided, the Declarant will sign in the presence of his or her two (2) witnesses.