Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 70.245 · 25 active provisions
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Adult" means an individual who is 18 years of age or older.(2) "Attending qualified medical provider" means the qualified medical provider who has primary responsibility for the care of the patient and treat…
(1) An adult patient who is competent, is a resident of Washington state, and has been determined by the attending qualified medical provider to be suffering from a terminal disease, and who has voluntarily expressed his or her wish to die, may make a written request for medication that the patient may self-administer…
(1) A valid request for medication under this chapter shall be in substantially the form described in RCW 70.245.220, signed and dated by the patient and witnessed by at least two individuals who, in the presence of the patient, attest that to the best of their knowledge and belief the patient is competent, acting volu…
(1) The attending qualified medical provider shall:(a) Make the determination of whether a patient has a terminal disease, is competent, and has made the request voluntarily;(b) Request that the patient demonstrate Washington state residency under RCW 70.245.130;(c) To ensure that the patient is making an informed deci…
Before a patient is qualified under this chapter, a consulting qualified medical provider shall examine the patient and his or her relevant medical records and confirm, in writing, the attending qualified medical provider's diagnosis that the patient is suffering from a terminal disease, and verify that the patient is…
If, in the opinion of either the attending qualified medical provider or the consulting qualified medical provider, a patient may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment, the qualified medical provider shall refer the patient for counseling. Medication to end a…
A person shall not receive a prescription for medication to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner unless he or she has made an informed decision. Immediately before writing a prescription for medication under this chapter, the attending qualified medical provider shall verify that the qualified patient i…
The attending qualified medical provider shall recommend that the patient notify the next of kin of his or her request for medication under this chapter. A patient who declines or is unable to notify next of kin shall not have his or her request denied for that reason.
(1) To receive a prescription for medication that the qualified patient may self-administer to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner, a qualified patient shall have made an oral request and a written request, and reiterate the oral request to his or her attending qualified medical provider at least seven…
A patient may rescind his or her request at any time and in any manner without regard to his or her mental state. No prescription for medication under this chapter may be written without the attending qualified medical provider offering the qualified patient an opportunity to rescind the request.
At least seven days shall elapse between the patient's initial oral request and the writing of a prescription under this chapter.
The following shall be documented or filed in the patient's medical record:(1) All oral requests by a patient for medication to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner;(2) All written requests by a patient for medication to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner;(3) The attending qualified me…
Only requests made by Washington state residents under this chapter may be granted. Factors demonstrating Washington state residency include but are not limited to:(1) Possession of a Washington state driver's license;(2) Registration to vote in Washington state; or(3) Evidence that the person owns or leases property i…
Any medication dispensed under this chapter that was not self-administered shall be disposed of by lawful means.
(1)(a) The department of health shall annually review all records maintained under this chapter.(b) The department of health shall require any health care provider upon writing a prescription or dispensing medication under this chapter to file a copy of the dispensing record and such other administratively required doc…
(1) Any provision in a contract, will, or other agreement, whether written or oral, to the extent the provision would affect whether a person may make or rescind a request for medication to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner, is not valid.(2) Any obligation owing under any currently existing contract…
The sale, procurement, or issuance of any life, health, or accident insurance or annuity policy or the rate charged for any policy shall not be conditioned upon or affected by the making or rescinding of a request, by a person, for medication that the patient may self-administer to end his or her life in a humane and d…
(1) Nothing in this chapter authorizes an attending qualified medical provider, consulting qualified medical provider, or any other person to end a patient's life by lethal injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia. Actions taken in accordance with this chapter do not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted…
(1) Except as provided in RCW 70.245.200 and subsection (2) of this section:(a) A person shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action for participating in good faith compliance with this chapter. This includes being present when a qualified patient takes the prescribed medicat…
(1) A person who without authorization of the patient willfully alters or forges a request for medication or conceals or destroys a rescission of that request with the intent or effect of causing the patient's death is guilty of a class A felony.(2) A person who coerces or exerts undue influence on a patient to request…
Any governmental entity that incurs costs resulting from a person terminating his or her life under this chapter in a public place has a claim against the estate of the person to recover such costs and reasonable attorneys' fees related to enforcing the claim.
A request for a medication as authorized by this chapter shall be in substantially the following form:REQUEST FOR MEDICATION TO END MY LIFE IN A HUMANE AND DIGNIFIED MANNERI, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., am an adult of sound mind.I am suffering from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., which my attending qualified medical…
(1) Subject to the provisions in subsection (2) of this section, a qualified patient may select the attending or consulting qualified medical provider of the qualified patient's choosing.(2)(a) If a qualified patient selects an attending qualified medical provider who is a licensed professional other than a physician,…
This act may be known and cited as the Washington death with dignity act.
This act takes effect one hundred twenty days after the election at which it is approved [March 5, 2009], except for section 24 of this act which takes effect July 1, 2009.