Chapter 154, ADVANCE DIRECTIVES

154.01 Definitions. In this chapter: (1g) “Advanced practice registered nurse” means an individual licensed under s. 441.09. NOTE: Sub. (1g) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads: (1g) “Advanced practice registered nurse” means a nurse lice…

154.02 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1) “Declaration” means a written, witnessed document voluntarily executed by the declarant under s. 154.03 (1), but is not limited in form or substance to that provided in s. 154.03 (2). (2) “Feeding tube” means a medical tube through whic…

154.03 Declaration to health care professionals. (1) Any person of sound mind and 18 years of age or older may at any time voluntarily execute a declaration, which shall take effect on the date of execution, authorizing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures …

154.05 Revocation of declaration. (1) METHOD OF REVOCATION. A declaration may be revoked at any time by the declarant by any of the following methods: (a) By being canceled, defaced, obliterated, burned, torn or otherwise destroyed by the declarant or by some person who is direct…

154.07 Duties and immunities. (1) LIABILITY. (a) No health care professional, inpatient health care facility, or person who is licensed, certified, or registered under ch. 441, 448, or 455 or holds a compact privilege under subch. XI of ch. 448 and who is acting under the directi…

154.11 General provisions. (1) SUICIDE. The withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures or feeding tubes from a qualified patient under this subchapter does not, for any purpose, constitute suicide. Execution of a declaration under this subchapter does not, for any pu…

154.13 Filing declaration. (1) A declarant or an individual authorized by the declarant may, for a fee, file the declarant’s declaration, for safekeeping, with the register in probate of the county in which the declarant resides. (2) If a declarant or authorized individual has fi…

154.15 Penalties. (1) Any person who intentionally conceals, cancels, defaces, obliterates or damages the declaration of another without the declarant’s consent may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 30 days or both. (2) Any person who, with the intent to cau…

154.17 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1) “Do-not-resuscitate bracelet” means a standardized identification bracelet that meets the specifications established under s. 154.27 (1), or that is approved by the department under s. 154.27 (2), that bears the inscription “Do Not Resu…

154.19 Do-not-resuscitate order. (1) No person except an attending health care professional may issue a do-not-resuscitate order. An attending health care professional may issue a donot-resuscitate order to a patient only if all of the following apply: (a) The patient is a qualif…

154.21 Revocation of do-not-resuscitate order. (1) METHOD OF REVOCATION. A patient may revoke a do-not-resuscitate order at any time by any of the following methods: (a) The patient expresses to an emergency medical services practitioner, to an emergency medical responder, or to …

154.225 Guardians and health care agents. (1) In this section: (a) “Guardian” has the meaning given in s. 51.40 (1) (f). (b) “Health care agent has the meaning given in s. 155.01 (4). (c) “Incapacitated” has the meaning given in s. 50.06 (1) (c). (2) The guardian or health care a…

154.23 Liability. No physician, emergency medical services practitioner, emergency medical responder, health care provider, as defined in s. 146.81 (1), or emergency health care facility may be held criminally or civilly liable, or charged with unprofessional conduct, for any of …

154.25 General provisions. (1) SUICIDE. Under this subchapter, the withholding or withdrawing of resuscitation from a patient wearing a valid do-not-resuscitate bracelet does not, for any purpose, constitute suicide. Requesting a do-not-resuscitate order under this subchapter doe…

154.27 Specifications and distribution of do-not-resuscitate bracelet. (1) The department shall establish by rule a uniform standard for the size, color, and design of all donot-resuscitate bracelets. Except as provided in sub. (2), the rules shall require that the do-not-resusci…

154.29 Penalties. (1) Any person who willfully conceals, defaces or damages the do-not-resuscitate bracelet of another person without that person’s consent may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than 30 days or both. (2) Any person who, with the intent to caus…

154.30 Control of final disposition of certain human remains. (1) DEFINITIONS. (a) “Authorization for final disposition” means a document that satisfies the conditions under sub. (8) (d) or (dm), and that is voluntarily executed by a declarant under sub. (8), but is not limited i…