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Iowa Living Wills Laws
More Information on Living Wills
| Code Section | 144A.2 Life-Sustaining Procedures Act |
| Specific Powers, Life-Prolonging Acts | Declarant may declare desire to not have life-sustaining procedures employed to prolong life; life sustaining procedures are those that utilize mechanical or artificial means to sustain, restore, or supplant a spontaneous vital function and/or when applied to a patient in a terminal condition would only serve to prolong the dying process, does not include provision of nutrition or hydration except when required parenterally or though intubation or the administration of medication or performance of medical procedures which provide comfort care or alleviate pain; declaration shall not be in effect when declarant is pregnant as long as fetus can develop to point of live birth |
| Legal Requirements for Valid Living Will | (1) Declarant competent adult; (2) signed in presence of 2 witnesses and in the presence of each other; (3) physician may presume declaration is valid; (4) actual notice of declaration to attending physician; (5) declaration given effect when declarant's condition is terminal and he is unable to make treatment decisions. (sample form 144A.3(5)) At least one witness must not be related to declarant. |
| Revocation of Living Will | Revocable at any time in any manner that declarant can communicate intent, without regard to mental or physical condition. Physician shall make revocation part of medical records |
| Validity from State-to-State | Similar document executed in another state in compliance with the laws of that state is valid and enforceable in Iowa, to the extent the document is consistent with Iowa law. |
| If Physician Unwilling to Follow Living Will | Physician shall take reasonable steps to transfer patient to another physician or facility |
| Immunity for Attending Physician | Individual or health care provider is not liable civilly or criminally or guilty of unprofessional conduct for complying in good faith with provisions in declaration indicating withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures. |
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