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Pennsylvania Living Wills Laws
More Information on Living Wills
| Code Section | 20§5401 et seq. Advanced Directive for Health Care Act |
| Specific Powers, Life-Prolonging Acts | Any medical procedure or intervention that serves only to prolong the process of dying or maintain the patient in a state of permanent unconsciousness; includes artificially or invasively administered nutrition and hydration if specifically provided for in declaration. Does not apply to emergency medical services. |
| Legal Requirements for Valid Living Will | (1) sound mind; (2) 18 yrs. or graduated from high school or married; (3) signed by declarant; (4) 2 adult witnesses; (5) suggested form 20§5404(b); (6) operative when declarant determined to be incompetent by attending physician as certified in writing; (7) not operative during pregnancy unless it will not maintain woman so as to permit live birth |
| Revocation of Living Will | Revoked at any time in any manner without regard to declarant's mental or physical condition. Effective upon communication to physician. |
| Validity from State-to-State | - |
| If Physician Unwilling to Follow Durable Power of Attorney | Unwilling physician must inform declarant, surrogate, or family, and make every reasonable effort to assist in the transfer of declarant to complying physician |
| Immunity for Attending Physician | No civil, criminal, or professional liability in following wishes of declarant pursuant to declaration executed according to statute. |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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