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When living will operative - 20 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5443

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     § 5443.  When living will operative.
        (a)  When operative.--A living will becomes operative when:
            (1)  a copy is provided to the attending physician; and
            (2)  the principal is determined by the attending
        physician to be incompetent and to have an end-stage medical
        condition or to be permanently unconscious.
        (b)  Compliance.--When a living will becomes operative, the
     attending physician and other health care providers shall act in
     accordance with its provisions or comply with the transfer
     provisions of section 5424 (relating to compliance).
        (c)  Invalidity of specific direction.--If a specific
     direction in a living will is held to be invalid, the invalidity
     does not negate other directions in the living will that can be
     effected without the invalid direction.
        (d)  Medical record.--Any health care provider to whom a copy
     of a living will is furnished shall make it a part of the
     medical record of the principal and, if unwilling to comply with
     the living will, promptly so advise the principal or the
     principal's health care agent or representative.
        (e)  Duration.--Unless a living will states a time of
     termination, it is valid until revoked by the principal,
     notwithstanding the lapse of time since its execution.
        (f)  Absence of living will.--If an individual does not make
     a living will, a presumption does not arise regarding the intent
     of the individual to consent to or to refuse the initiation,
     continuation, withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining
     treatment.
        (g)  Duty of physician to certify end-stage medical
     condition.--Promptly after a determination that the principal
     has an end-stage medical condition or is permanently
     unconscious, the attending physician shall certify in writing
     that the principal has an end-stage medical condition or is
     permanently unconscious.

        Cross References.  Section 5443 is referred to in section
     5445 of this title.

Last modified: November 27, 2007