{"id":376024,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:30","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-living-wills-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-06-22T09:45:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T14:45:00","slug":"pennsylvania-living-wills-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/pennsylvania-law\/pennsylvania-living-wills-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Living Wills Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pennsylvania Living Wills Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Carol Clasby, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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A Pennsylvania living will is a legal document that specifies an individual’s preferences for life-sustaining medical treatment and end-of-life care if they become incapacitated. This advance directive applies when a principal is permanently unconscious or has an end-stage condition. It outlines choices for artificial nutrition, hydration, and mechanical ventilation. By recording these wishes, it guides healthcare providers and reduces emotional conflict for family members.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

An estate plan<\/span> addresses how your property will be distributed after your death. It can also allow you to choose who\u2019ll make important medical decisions<\/span> for you if you can\u2019t do it yourself. Incapacity planning is an essential part of an estate plan<\/span>. With an advance directive, you can control how your healthcare<\/span> decisions<\/span> are made if you become incapacitated.<\/p>\n

In Pennsylvania<\/span>, an advance <\/span>health care<\/span> directive<\/span> often includes a living will<\/span>, a healthcare<\/span> power of attorney<\/span>, or both. Your living will<\/span><\/a> is a legal document<\/span> that expresses how you want your health care<\/span> managed, such as life-sustaining treatments<\/span> and end-of-life<\/span> care. With a healthcare<\/span> power of attorney<\/span>, you appoint a trusted person, known as your healthcare<\/span> agent<\/span>, to make important health decisions on your behalf if you\u2019re incapacitated.<\/p>\n

Together, these important legal documents<\/span><\/a> can ensure that your medical decisions<\/span> are made the way you\u2019d want them made at a time when you can\u2019t communicate your healthcare<\/span> wishes. They should be a part of any estate plan<\/span> you create.<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania<\/span>\u2019s Advance <\/span>Healthcare<\/span> Directive<\/span><\/h2>\n

No one likes to think of themselves in a persistent vegetative state<\/span>, on life support<\/span>, or in a nursing home<\/span>, but an accident can change everything in an instant. Serious illness can outlast and outpace medical treatment<\/span> options. Creating your advance <\/span>healthcare<\/span> directive<\/span> now can give you a say in how you\u2019re cared for if you become incapacitated in the future.<\/p>\n

Living Will<\/span><\/h3>\n

A living will<\/span><\/a> is a legal document<\/span> stating your wishes about life-sustaining medical treatment<\/span>. It takes effect when you\u2019re unable to make and communicate your own healthcare<\/span> wishes, such as if you\u2019re either permanently unconscious<\/span> or have an end-stage medical condition<\/span>.<\/p>\n

In a Pennsylvania<\/span> living will<\/span>, you can provide instructions about treatments such as artificial nutrition and hydration<\/span> (tube feeding<\/span> and IVs), mechanical ventilation<\/span> (breathing machine<\/span>), dialysis<\/span>, cardiopulmonary <\/span>resuscitation<\/span> (CPR<\/span>), and other life-sustaining treatments<\/span>. By documenting your preferences, a living will<\/span> helps ensure that your medical care<\/span> aligns with your values and spares your\u00a0loved ones<\/span>\u00a0the burden\u00a0of guessing what you\u2019d want.<\/p>\n

Durable Healthcare<\/span> Power of Attorney<\/span><\/h3>\n

While your living will<\/span> addresses how you want your healthcare<\/span> decisions<\/span> made, the durable healthcare<\/span> power of attorney<\/span> designates who will be your healthcare<\/span> decision<\/span> maker<\/span>. The benefits of appointing a healthcare<\/span> agent<\/span> include:<\/p>\n