WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

68.64.180 - Declarations or advance health care directives -- Conflicts with medical suitability measures.

Declarations or advance health care directives — Conflicts with medical suitability measures.

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (a) "Advance health care directive" means a power of attorney for health care or a "directive" as defined in RCW 70.122.020.

     (b) "Declaration" means a record signed by a prospective donor specifying the circumstances under which a life support system may be withheld or withdrawn from the prospective donor.

     (c) "Health care decision" means any decision made regarding the health care of the prospective donor.

     (2) If a prospective donor has a declaration or advance health care directive, and the terms of the declaration or directive and the express or implied terms of a potential anatomical gift are in conflict with regard to the administration of measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of a part for transplantation or therapy, the prospective donor's attending physician and the prospective donor shall confer to resolve the conflict. If the prospective donor is incapable of resolving the conflict, an agent acting under the prospective donor's declaration or directive, or, if none or the agent is not reasonably available, another person authorized by law other than this chapter to make health care decisions on behalf of the prospective donor, shall act for the donor to resolve the conflict. The conflict must be resolved as expeditiously as possible. Information relevant to the resolution of the conflict may be obtained from the appropriate procurement organization and any other person authorized to make an anatomical gift for the prospective donor under RCW 68.64.080. Before resolution of the conflict, measures necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the part may not be withheld or withdrawn from the prospective donor if withholding or withdrawing the measures is not contraindicated by appropriate end-of-life care.

[2008 c 139 § 20.]