What is a living will?
A living will is a legal document used in Washington state that allows a person to make decisions about their health care before they can no longer communicate those desires themselves. It is typically used if a person is ever in a terminal condition or in a coma and unable to communicate with medical staff. In a living will, a person is able to make decisions about which treatments and procedures should be used, or not used, if there is no hope for recovery. This document can be used to outline one’s wishes in regards to their medical care, such as whether or not to keep them on life support, and other medical decisions, such as organ donations. A living will is also known as an advance health care directive, and it must be signed and witnessed by an adult in order to be considered valid. In most cases, one must be of legal age in order to create a valid living will. This document can be updated and revised at any time, as long as it is witnessed and signed. In Washington, a living will allows someone to have their wishes legally recognized even if they are unable to express them. This document can be incredibly helpful in making sure a person’s wishes are respected in the event of a medical emergency, and it can help to make a difficult situation easier for both the patient and their family.
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