Death With Dignity Act

The act governs written declarations by which a person directs that life-sustaining procedures be withheld or withdrawn, and it establishes the form such a declaration must take, the conditions under which it becomes operative, how it may be revoked, and how an agent may be appointed to carry it out; it also allows declarations made under earlier or out-of-state law to be supplemented with instructions on artificial nutrition and hydration, and it has no effect while the declarant is pregnant. Health care providers who rely on a declaration are presumed to act in good faith and are immune from liability, a physician or health care worker unwilling to honor one must yield to a willing provider, and penalties attach to violations. The act further provides that no one may be required to have a declaration as a condition of insurance, medical treatment, or admission to a hospital or nursing home, that no intent may be inferred from the absence of a declaration and other legal rights remain unimpaired, and that acting on a declaration is neither suicide nor authorization for mercy killing.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.