Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 70 Public Health And Safety - Chapter 70.245 The Washington Death With Dignity Act
- 70.245.010 Definitions
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Adult" means an individual who is eighteen years of ...
- 70.245.020 Written request for medication
(1) An adult who is competent, is a resident of Washington state, and has been determined by the attending physician and consulting physician to be ...
- 70.245.030 Form of the written request
(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 ...
- 70.245.040 Attending physician responsibilities
(1) The attending physician shall: (a) Make the initial determination of whether a patient has a terminal disease, is competent, and has made the request ...
- 70.245.050 Consulting physician confirmation
Before a patient is qualified under this chapter, a consulting physician shall examine the patient and his or her relevant medical records and confirm, in ...
- 70.245.060 Counseling referral
If, in the opinion of the attending physician or the consulting physician, a patient may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression ...
- 70.245.070 Informed decision
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 ...
- 70.245.080 Notification of next of kin
The attending physician shall recommend that the patient notify the next of kin of his or her request for medication under this chapter. A patient ...
- 70.245.090 Written and oral requests
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 ...
- 70.245.100 Right to rescind request
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 ...
- 70.245.110 Waiting periods
(1) At least fifteen days shall elapse between the patient's initial oral request and the writing of a prescription under this chapter. (2) At least ...
- 70.245.120 Medical record documentation requirements
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 ...
- 70.245.130 Residency requirement
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) ...
- 70.245.140 Disposal of unused medications
Any medication dispensed under this chapter that was not self-administered shall be disposed of by lawful means.[2009 c 1 § 14 (Initiative Measure No. 1000, ...
- 70.245.150 Reporting of information to the department of health -- Adoption of rules -- Information collected not a public record -- Annual statistical report
(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 ...
- 70.245.160 Effect on construction of wills, contracts, and statutes
(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 ...
- 70.245.170 Insurance or annuity policies
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 ...
- 70.245.180 Authority of chapter -- References to practices under this chapter -- Applicable standard of care
(1) Nothing in this chapter authorizes a physician or any other person to end a patient's life by lethal injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia. ...
- 70.245.190 Immunities -- Basis for prohibiting health care provider from participation -- Notification -- Permissible sanctions
(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 ...
- 70.245.200 Willful alteration/forgery -- Coercion or undue influence -- Penalties -- Civil damages -- Other penalties not precluded
(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 ...
- 70.245.210 Claims by governmental entity for costs incurred
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 ...
- 70.245.220 Form of the request
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 ...
- 70.245.901 Short title -- 2009 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1000)
This act may be known and cited as the Washington death with dignity act.[2009 c 1 § 26 (Initiative Measure No. 1000, approved November 4, ...
- 70.245.902 Severability -- 2009 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1000)
If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application ...
- 70.245.903 Effective dates -- 2009 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1000)
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 ...
- 70.245.904 Captions, part headings, and subpart headings not law -- 2009 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1000)
Captions, part headings, and subpart headings used in this act are not any part of the law.[2009 c 1 § 30 (Initiative Measure No. 1000, ...
Last modified: April 7, 2009