Advance Directives

Advance directive is a general term for instructions about future medical care if a person becomes incapable of stating his or her wishes. In these documents, both wanted and unwanted treatment may be specified. In Washington State, there are three types of advance directives pertaining to the end of life: the Health Care Directive (also known as a Living Will or Directive to Physician), the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, and the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment or POLST, which translates your end-of-life wishes into medical orders.

Every adult should make a Health Care Directive (Living Will) and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. The POLST form should be made only by those with serious medical conditions.

Washington Living Will Registry

Register your completed advance directives at the Washington State Living Will Registry by following instructions found at www.doh.wa.gov/livingwill. The registry is operated by the Washington State Department of Health and allows your advance directives to be accessed by you and your medical providers anywhere via internet access. There is no charge for registration. (Note: We do not recommend using the Health Care Directive provided on this website.)

Compassion & Choices of Washington’s (C&C) Advance Directive set the standard in Washington State for advance planning documents. It has been widely praised by health care professionals, advance planning advocates, and attorneys who specialize in elder law and estate planning. It is also endorsed by Senior Services of Seattle/King County and includes information pertinent to Washington State registered domestic partners.
The C&C Advance Directive:

• Combines your Health Care Directive (Living Will) and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care into one document.
• Applies if you have a terminal or non-terminal medical condition.
• Contains no anti-choice statements.
• Includes an Alzheimer's and dementia provision.
• Uses very specific terminology regarding when you don't want life-sustaining treatment and what treatments you don't want.
• Allows you to place limits on how long you would remain in a coma or persistent vegetative state.
• Offers an option of no life-sustaining treatment under any circumstances (for the very elderly, for instance).
• Includes a statement requesting maximum pain and comfort care, even if it might hasten your dying process.
• Remains in effect after death (for organ donation, disposition of remains, etc.).
• Includes a provision stating that if a guardian is appointed for you, that guardian should be the health care agent you named.
• Affirms a health care agent's right to complete a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form on behalf of the maker.
• Allows consideration of every legal, ethical option.

If you have questions or need guidance in preparing your C&C Advance Directive, please call our office at 206.256.1636 or 1.877.222.2816 toll-free, and a staff member will be glad to assist you.