Title 70 — Title 70 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
98 chapters · 1,450 sections in this title.
RCW 70.245.010 Definitions.
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The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Adult" means an individual who is 18 years of age or older.(2) "Attending qualified medical provider" means the qualified medical provider who has primary responsibili…
RCW 70.245.020 Written request for medication.
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(1) An adult patient who is competent, is a resident of Washington state, and has been determined by the attending qualified medical provider to be suffering from a terminal disease, and who has voluntarily expressed his or her wish to die, may make a written request for medicati…
RCW 70.245.030 Form of the written request.
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(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 and witnessed by at least two individuals who, in the presence of the patient, attest that to the best of their knowledge and beli…
RCW 70.245.040 Attending qualified medical provider responsibilities.
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(1) The attending qualified medical provider shall:(a) Make the determination of whether a patient has a terminal disease, is competent, and has made the request voluntarily;(b) Request that the patient demonstrate Washington state residency under RCW 70.245.130;(c) To ensure tha…
RCW 70.245.050 Consulting qualified medical provider confirmation.
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Before a patient is qualified under this chapter, a consulting qualified medical provider shall examine the patient and his or her relevant medical records and confirm, in writing, the attending qualified medical provider's diagnosis that the patient is suffering from a terminal …
RCW 70.245.060 Counseling referral.
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If, in the opinion of either the attending qualified medical provider or the consulting qualified medical provider, a patient may be suffering from a psychiatric or psychological disorder or depression causing impaired judgment, the qualified medical provider shall refer the pati…
RCW 70.245.070 Informed decision.
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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 has made an informed decision. Immediately before writing a prescription for medication under this chapter, the attending qualified medical provider s…
RCW 70.245.080 Notification of next of kin.
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The attending qualified medical provider shall recommend that the patient notify the next of kin of his or her request for medication under this chapter. A patient who declines or is unable to notify next of kin shall not have his or her request denied for that reason.[ 2023 c 38…
RCW 70.245.090 Written and oral requests.
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(1) 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 qualified patient shall have made an oral request and a written request, and reiterate the oral request to his or her attending q…
RCW 70.245.100 Right to rescind request.
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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 for medication under this chapter may be written without the attending qualified medical provider offering the qualified patient an opportunity to res…
RCW 70.245.110 Waiting period.
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At least seven days shall elapse between the patient's initial oral request and the writing of a prescription under this chapter.[ 2023 c 38 s 12; 2009 c 1 s 11 (Initiative Measure No. 1000, approved November 4, 2008).]
RCW 70.245.120 Medical record documentation requirements.
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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 her life in a humane and dignified manner;(2) All written requests by a patient for medication to end his or her life in a humane and dignifi…
RCW 70.245.130 Residency requirement.
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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) Possession of a Washington state driver's license;(2) Registration to vote in Washington state; or(3) Evidence t…
RCW 70.245.140 Disposal of unused medications.
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Any medication dispensed under this chapter that was not self-administered shall be disposed of by lawful means.[ 2009 c 1 s 14 (Initiative Measure No. 1000, approved November 4, 2008).]
RCW 70.245.150 Reporting of information to the department of health—Adoption of rules—Information collected not a public record—Annual statistical report.
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(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 upon writing a prescription or dispensing medication under this chapter to file a copy of the dispensing record and …
RCW 70.245.160 Effect on construction of wills, contracts, and statutes.
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(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 make or rescind a request for medication to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner, is not valid.(2) Any obligation owin…
RCW 70.245.170 Insurance or annuity policies.
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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 conditioned upon or affected by the making or rescinding of a request, by a person, for medication that the patient may self-administer …
RCW 70.245.180 Authority of chapter—References to practices under this chapter—Applicable standard of care.
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(1) Nothing in this chapter authorizes an attending qualified medical provider, consulting qualified medical provider, or any other person to end a patient's life by lethal injection, mercy killing, or active euthanasia. Actions taken in accordance with this chapter do not, for a…
RCW 70.245.190 Immunities—Basis for prohibiting health care provider from participation—Notification—Permissible sanctions.
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(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 or professional disciplinary action for participating in good faith compliance with this chapter. This includes being present when a qualif…
RCW 70.245.200 Willful alteration/forgery—Coercion or undue influence—Penalties—Civil damages—Other penalties not precluded.
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(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 request with the intent or effect of causing the patient's death is guilty of a class A felony.(2) A person who coerces or exerts…
RCW 70.245.210 Claims by governmental entity for costs incurred.
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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 against the estate of the person to recover such costs and reasonable attorneys' fees related to enforcing the claim.[ 2009 c 1 s 21 (Ini…
RCW 70.245.220 Form of the request.
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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 A HUMANE AND DIGNIFIED MANNERI, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., am an adult of sound mind.I am suffering from . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …
RCW 70.245.230 Selection of qualified medical provider.
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(1) Subject to the provisions in subsection (2) of this section, a qualified patient may select the attending or consulting qualified medical provider of the qualified patient's choosing.(2)(a) If a qualified patient selects an attending qualified medical provider who is a licens…
RCW 70.245.901 Short title—2009 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1000).
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This act may be known and cited as the Washington death with dignity act.[ 2009 c 1 s 26 (Initiative Measure No. 1000, approved November 4, 2008).]
RCW 70.245.903 Effective dates—2009 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1000).
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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 act which takes effect July 1, 2009.[ 2009 c 1 s 28 (Initiative Measure No. 1000, approved November 4, 2008).]