Advance Health Care Directives State Law Survey

Summary

This practice note is a state law survey that addresses health care directives, life-support termination, durable powers of attorney, and physician-assisted suicide. Highlighted issues include: (1) health care directive requirements, including medical confirmation of incapacity and/or allowance of oral directives; (2) witness and/or notary requirements; (3) surrogate hierarchy upon patient's lack of directive or guardian; and (4) other distinctive policy issues specific to individual states, such as pregnancy limitations.