PDF
Word
Living Will Form - Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. Living Wills 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.
Download a ready-made template by clicking the link below or make your own Living Will with our form builder .
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, a 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.
A Pennsylvania Living Will is regulated by Section 5422 of Chapter 54 (Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement) . It is necessary to have two (2) witnesses to the will. The document is not valid if the patient is pregnant.
What Is a Pennsylvania Living Will?
A Living Will is a legal form that lets all participating parties know about the kind of medical care and palliative care a patient wishes to receive. When creating a will, the individual will be deciding on the types of care that they are willing to receive and the types of medical care they will not be receiving. For example, some people choose to not be resuscitated if they stop breathing while in a coma, while others choose to remain on life support.
An individual can print out a basic Living Will template with or without the assistance of an attorney. The document may be revoked in writing or orally, by either the patient (the person making the will) or by a designated proxy (the person elected to make healthcare-related decisions for the patient).
How to Make a Living Will in Pennsylvania?
A basic Living Will can be completed without a lawyer or an attorney. Generally, all Living Wills in Pennsylvania include the following sections:
- A designation of health care proxy - a third party tasked with making any and all healthcare-related decisions on the patient's behalf.
- General provisions - the general wishes concerning healthcare, custody and medical treatment.
- Life-sustaining medical treatment - provisions regarding life-support, tube feeding, surgeries, antibiotics or medication.
- Comfort and pain relief - the patient may choose any treatment even if it results in hastening the death or a temporary addiction.
- The agent's obligations - the agent must take the patient's personal values to the extent known to them into consideration.
- End of life decisions - including the provisions regarding the withholding or withdrawal of treatment.
- The patient's statement and signature - the patient must certify that they are fully aware and completely understand the contents of the document.
Download Living Will Form - Pennsylvania
1
2
3
