A Hawaii Living Will - sometimes confused with an Advance Directive - is a vital piece of paperwork that allows all patients to ensure that their wishes regarding life-sustaining medical treatment are honored by doctors and healthcare professionals working in the state of Hawaii. Living Will forms are legal tools used to assure that the patient's wishes with respect to the number and quality of medical procedures are carried out in their final days or when they are incapacitated.
These forms reflect the patient's rights of consent and medical choice under conditions whereby they are no longer capable of choosing the procedures they wish to undergo for themselves. Any will is a significant legal document that should be given careful thought and discussed with the family, physician, and care providers. It is highly recommended that a discussion of the patient's wishes occurs before any medical treatment is necessary since the will may directly involve the patient's family or require them to assist in its implementation.
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A Hawaii Living Will is defined by § 327E-2 of Chapter 327E (Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act) . The instructions must be in writing. The will must be signed by two individuals each of whom witnessed either the signing or acknowledged before a notary public. This document is not valid in Hawaii if the patient is pregnant.
A Living Will is a written, legal document that spells out the medical treatments an individual would and would not want to be used to keep them alive. The form also clarifies the preferences for other medical decisions, such as pain management or organ donation. The person for whom the will is created is called the Principal.
The document may be revoked at any time as long as the Principal still has the mental capacity to do so. The Principal may also elect a trusted individual - or agent - to make decisions on their behalf when they are no longer able to speak for themselves.
This form can be completed without a lawyer or an attorney. Generally, all Living Will in Hawaii include the following sections: