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SUMMARY OF STATE LIVING WILL LEGISLATION

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Synopsis: The District of Columbia has a strong living will act.
This act allows the preparation of a living will. Once a
declarant is certified to have a terminal illness, the physician
must either comply with the declaration or is required to
transfer the patient to another physician or facility which will
follow the declaration.  To prepare a living will using the
District of Columbia recommended form, please select living will
preparation from the opening menu.  Remember that we recommend
preparing a "uniform" living will in addition to the form
suggested with by the District of Columbia. Please also consider
executing a living will for any State that you spend more than a
few weeks per year, or where you are a temporary resident.

Statute number: D.C. Code Title 16, Section 6-2421 
Statute title: District of Columbia Natural Death Act of 1981.

Governmental Agency to contact for more information: None
specified


A specific form of living will is suggested.

Witness requirements: Number: 2  Relationship: Witnesses may
not be related by blood or marriage, may not be directly
responsible for the medical costs of the declarant and must be
over 18 years of age. Further the witnesses may not be
beneficiaries either of any will or codicil or under the
intestacy laws of D.C.

Recording of the living will is not provided for.

Revocation of the living will may be made by tearing, defacing, 
burning, etc. It may be verbally revoked by a statement to
one witness. The witness must communicate this to the treating
physician.