Bill > HB1215

This bill removes a specific provision in the Washington state Natural Death Act's model directive form that previously invalidated the advance directive if the person was pregnant. The bill eliminates language that stated an advance directive would have no force or effect during pregnancy, effectively ensuring that pregnant individuals can still make their own end-of-life medical treatment decisions. The modified directive form continues to allow adults to provide instructions about withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in terminal or permanent unconscious conditions, and maintains the existing requirements for the document's execution, such as requiring signatures from witnesses or notarization. The changes are primarily technical, renumbering subsequent sections of the form after removing the pregnancy-related clause. By removing this provision, the bill ensures that a person's advance healthcare directive remains valid regardless of pregnancy status, giving individuals more consistent control over their medical treatment preferences.