Untitled section

154.03

 

Declaration to health care professionals.

154.03(1)

(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 or of feeding tubes when the person is in a terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state. A declarant may not authorize the withholding or withdrawal of any medication, life-sustaining procedure or feeding tube if the declarant’s attending health care professional advises that, in his or her professional judgment, the withholding or withdrawal will cause the declarant pain or reduce the declarant’s comfort and the pain or discomfort cannot be alleviated through pain relief measures. A declarant may not authorize the withholding or withdrawal of nutrition or hydration that is administered or otherwise received by the declarant through means other than a feeding tube unless the declarant’s attending health care professional advises that, in his or her professional judgment, the administration is medically contraindicated. A declaration must be signed by the declarant in the presence of 2 witnesses. If the declarant is physically unable to sign a declaration, the declaration must be signed in the declarant’s name by one of the witnesses or some other person at the declarant’s express direction and in his or her presence; such a proxy signing shall either take place or be acknowledged by the declarant in the presence of 2 witnesses. The declarant is responsible for notifying his or her attending health care professional of the existence of the declaration. An attending health care professional who is so notified shall make the declaration a part of the declarant’s medical records. No witness to the execution of the declaration may, at the time of the execution, be any of the following:

154.03(1)(a)

(a)

Related to the declarant by blood, marriage or adoption.

154.03(1)(b)

(b)

Have knowledge that he or she is entitled to or has a claim on any portion of the declarant’s estate.

154.03(1)(c)

(c)

Directly financially responsible for the declarant’s health care.

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2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes updated

through 2025 Wis. Act 103 and through all Supreme Court Orders and Controlled Substances Board Orders filed before and in effect on April 3, 2026.

Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after April 3, 2026, are designated by NOTES.

(Published 4-3-26)