Washington State follows a surrogate decision-making hierarchy if you are unable to make your own health care decisions. The order of who will decide is:

• Guardian – appointed by court of law
• Named Health Care Agent – appointed by you and documented in advanced directive
• Spouse or registered domestic partner (even if separated)
• Adult Children *
• Parents *
• Adult Siblings *
• Adult Grandchildren *
• Adult Nieces & Nephews *
• Adult Aunts & Uncles *
• A close friend who meets certain criteria
Any group with * that has more than one person: all in the group must agree to the care

Advance care planning is for all adults age 18 and older. It is talking about the future health care decisions if you had a sudden event, like a serious accident or illness and could not make your own decisions.

Helps you to appoint a Health Care Agent.

It is important to write down your goals, values and preferences on a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care form and/or a Health Care Directive.

These documents should be updated regularly and shared with your health care providers and loved ones.

Advance care planning is about having the conversation.
• Think about your values and wishes.
• Consider future health care decisions that may need to be made on your behalf.
• Talk about choices with your loved ones and your doctor.
• Make a written plan designating your Health Care Agent.

You should review your plans and choices whenever any of the 5 D’s occur:

• Decade
• Death of a loved one
• Divorce
• Diagnosis
• Decline in your health

A Health Care Directive is a form that lets you say what kind of medical treatments you do or do not want if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious and cannot make decisions for yourself. A Health Care Directive also lets you write down your health care values.

For more information and fillable forms visit:

https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/health-care-directive-or-living-will

A power of attorney form lets you choose a trusted friend or relative to help you with your finances and/or health care decisions. After you sign it, the person you choose will take the power of attorney to your medical providers, bank, school, and other places to make decisions and sign contracts just as if they were you.

The trusted friend or relative you choose to help you with your finances and/or health care decisions is called your “agent.”

A power of attorney is “durable” if it says that your agent can use it even if you become sick or injured and cannot make decisions for yourself.

For more information and fillable forms visit:

https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/questions-and-answers-on-powers-of-attorney