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The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB655,1 1Section 1 . 154.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB655,2,42 154.02 (1) “Declaration" means a written , witnessed document voluntarily
3executed by the declarant and witnessed or acknowledged under s. 154.03 (1), but
4is not limited in form or substance to that provided in s. 154.03 (2).
SB655,2 5Section 2. 154.03 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB655,3,236 154.03 (1) (intro.) Any person of sound mind and 18 years of age or older may
7at any time voluntarily execute a declaration, which shall take effect on the date of
8execution, authorizing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures
9or of feeding tubes when the person is in a terminal condition or is in a persistent

1vegetative state. A declarant may not authorize the withholding or withdrawal of
2any medication, life-sustaining procedure or feeding tube if the declarant's
3attending physician advises that, in his or her professional judgment, the
4withholding or withdrawal will cause the declarant pain or reduce the declarant's
5comfort and the pain or discomfort cannot be alleviated through pain relief
6measures. A declarant may not authorize the withholding or withdrawal of nutrition
7or hydration that is administered or otherwise received by the declarant through
8means other than a feeding tube unless the declarant's attending physician advises
9that, in his or her professional judgment, the administration is medically
10contraindicated. A declaration must be signed by the declarant in the presence of 2
11witnesses or the declarant must make an acknowledgment of the declaration before
12a notarial officer authorized under s. 706.07 to take acknowledgments
. If the
13declarant is physically unable to sign a declaration, the declaration must be signed
14in the declarant's name by one of the witnesses witness or some other person at the
15declarant's express direction and in his or her presence; such a proxy signing shall
16either take place or be acknowledged by the declarant in the presence of 2 witnesses
17or be acknowledged by the declarant before a notarial officer authorized under s.
18706.07 to take acknowledgments
. The declarant is responsible for notifying his or
19her attending physician of the existence of the declaration. An attending physician
20who is so notified shall make the declaration a part of the declarant's medical records.
21No witness to the execution of the declaration or notarial officer who takes an
22acknowledgment of the declaration
may, at the time of the execution, be any of the
23following:
SB655,3 24Section 3 . 154.03 (1) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 154.03 (1) (d) (intro.)
25and amended to read:
SB655,4,1
1154.03 (1) (d) (intro.) An individual who is a any of the following:
SB655,4,3 21. A health care provider, as defined in s. 155.01 (7), who is serving the
3declarant at the time of execution, an.
SB655,4,6 42. An employee, other than an employee authorized as a notarial officer under
5s. 706.07,
a chaplain, or a social worker, of the a health care provider or an who is
6serving the declarant at the time of execution.
SB655,4,9 73. An employee, other than an employee authorized as a notarial officer under
8s. 706.07,
a chaplain, or a social worker, of an inpatient health care facility in which
9the declarant is a patient.
SB655,4 10Section 4 . 154.03 (1) (d) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
SB655,4,1211 154.03 (1) (d) 4. A finance or billing officer of an inpatient health care facility
12in which the declarant is a patient.
SB655,5 13Section 5. 154.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB655,5,514 154.03 (2) The department shall prepare and provide copies of the declaration
15and accompanying information for distribution in quantities to health care
16professionals, hospitals, nursing homes, county clerks and local bar associations and
17individually to private persons. The department shall include, in information
18accompanying the declaration, at least the statutory definitions of terms used in the
19declaration, statutory restrictions on who may be witnesses a witness to or be a
20notarial officer that takes an acknowledgment of
a valid declaration, a statement
21explaining that valid witnesses or notarial officers acting in good faith are statutorily
22immune from civil or criminal liability, an instruction to potential declarants to read
23and understand the information before completing the declaration and a statement
24explaining that an instrument may, but need not be, filed with the register in probate
25of the declarant's county of residence. The department may charge a reasonable fee

1for the cost of preparation and distribution. The declaration distributed by the
2department of health services shall be easy to read, the type size may be no smaller
3than 10 point, and the declaration shall be in the following form, setting forth on the
4first page the wording before the ATTENTION statement and setting forth on the
52nd page the ATTENTION statement and remaining wording:
SB655,5,6 6Declaration to physicians
SB655,5,77 (WISCONSIN LIVING WILL)
SB655,5,138 I,...., being of sound mind, voluntarily state my desire that my dying not be
9prolonged under the circumstances specified in this document. Under those
10circumstances, I direct that I be permitted to die naturally. If I am unable to give
11directions regarding the use of life-sustaining procedures or feeding tubes, I intend
12that my family and physician honor this document as the final expression of my legal
13right to refuse medical or surgical treatment.
SB655,5,1714 1. If I have a TERMINAL CONDITION, as determined by 2 physicians who
15have personally examined me, I do not want my dying to be artificially prolonged and
16I do not want life-sustaining procedures to be used. In addition, the following are
17my directions regarding the use of feeding tubes:
SB655,5,1818 .... YES, I want feeding tubes used if I have a terminal condition.
SB655,5,1919 .... NO, I do not want feeding tubes used if I have a terminal condition.
SB655,5,2020 If you have not checked either box, feeding tubes will be used.
SB655,5,2321 2. If I am in a PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE, as determined by 2
22physicians who have personally examined me, the following are my directions
23regarding the use of life-sustaining procedures:
SB655,5,2524 .... YES, I want life-sustaining procedures used if I am in a persistent
25vegetative state.
SB655,6,2
1.... NO, I do not want life-sustaining procedures used if I am in a persistent
2vegetative state.
SB655,6,33 If you have not checked either box, life-sustaining procedures will be used.
SB655,6,64 3. If I am in a PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE, as determined by 2
5physicians who have personally examined me, the following are my directions
6regarding the use of feeding tubes:
SB655,6,77 .... YES, I want feeding tubes used if I am in a persistent vegetative state.
SB655,6,88 .... NO, I do not want feeding tubes used if I am in a persistent vegetative state.
SB655,6,99 If you have not checked either box, feeding tubes will be used.
SB655,6,1210 If you are interested in more information about the significant terms used in
11this document, see section 154.01 of the Wisconsin Statutes or the information
12accompanying this document.
SB655,6,1413 ATTENTION: You and the 2 witnesses or a notarial officer must sign the
14document at the same time.
SB655,6,1515 Signed ....   Date ....
SB655,6,1616 Address ....   Date of birth ....
SB655,6,2017 I believe that the person signing this document is of sound mind. I am an adult
18and am not related to the person signing this document by blood, marriage or
19adoption. I am not entitled to and do not have a claim on any portion of the person's
20estate and am not otherwise restricted by law from being a witness.
SB655,6,2121 Witness signature ....   Date signed ....
SB655,6,2222 Print name ....
SB655,6,2424 Witness signature ....   Date signed ....
SB655,6,2525 Print name ....
SB655,7,1
1Notarial officer:
SB655,7,2 2(print) Name....
SB655,7,3 3State of ....
SB655,7,4 4County of ....
SB655,7,6 5This document was acknowledged before me on .... (date), by .... (name of
6principal).
SB655,7,7 7(Seal, if any)
SB655,7,8 8Signature of notary ....
SB655,7,9 9My commission expires: ....
SB655,7,1010 DIRECTIVES TO ATTENDING PHYSICIAN
SB655,7,1411 1. This document authorizes the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining
12procedures or of feeding tubes when 2 physicians, one of whom is the attending
13physician, have personally examined and certified in writing that the patient has a
14terminal condition or is in a persistent vegetative state.
SB655,7,2015 2. The choices in this document were made by a competent adult. Under the
16law, the patient's stated desires must be followed unless you believe that withholding
17or withdrawing life-sustaining procedures or feeding tubes would cause the patient
18pain or reduced comfort and that the pain or discomfort cannot be alleviated through
19pain relief measures. If the patient's stated desires are that life-sustaining
20procedures or feeding tubes be used, this directive must be followed.
SB655,7,2321 3. If you feel that you cannot comply with this document, you must make a good
22faith attempt to transfer the patient to another physician who will comply. Refusal
23or failure to make a good faith attempt to do so constitutes unprofessional conduct.
SB655,7,2524 4. If you know that the patient is pregnant, this document has no effect during
25her pregnancy.
SB655,8,1
1* * * * *
SB655,8,42 The person making this living will may use the following space to record the
3names of those individuals and health care providers to whom he or she has given
4copies of this document:
SB655,8,55 .................................................................
SB655,8,66 .................................................................
SB655,8,77 .................................................................
SB655,6 8Section 6 . 154.07 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB655,8,129 154.07 (1) (b) 1. No person who acts in good faith as a witness to a declaration
10or takes an acknowledgment of a declaration under this subchapter may be held
11civilly or criminally liable for participating in the withholding or withdrawal of
12life-sustaining procedures or feeding tubes under this subchapter.
SB655,7 13Section 7 . 154.07 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB655,8,1514 154.07 (1) (b) 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to a person who acts as a witness
15or takes an acknowledgment in violation of s. 154.03 (1).
SB655,8 16Section 8 . 155.10 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB655,8,18 17155.10 (title) Power of attorney for health care instrument; execution;
18witnesses
and notarial officers.
SB655,9 19Section 9 . 155.10 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB655,8,2320 155.10 (1) (c) Signed in the presence of 2 witnesses who meet the requirements
21of sub. (2) or the principal makes an acknowledgment of the instrument before a
22notarial officer authorized under s. 706.07 to take acknowledgments who meets the
23requirements of sub. (2)
.
SB655,10 24Section 10 . 155.10 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB655,9,5
1155.10 (2) (intro.) A witness to the execution of a valid power of attorney for
2health care instrument shall be an individual who has attained age 18. No witness
3to the execution or notarial officer who takes an acknowledgment of the power of
4attorney for health care instrument may, at the time of the execution, be any of the
5following:
SB655,11 6Section 11 . 155.10 (2) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 155.10 (2) (d) (intro.)
7and amended to read:
SB655,9,88 155.10 (2) (d) (intro.) An individual who is a any of the following:
SB655,9,10 91. A health care provider who is serving the principal at the time of execution,
10an
.
SB655,9,13 112. An employee, other than an employee authorized as a notarial officer under
12s. 706.07,
a chaplain, or a social worker, of the a health care provider or an who is
13serving the principal at the time of execution.
SB655,9,16 143. An employee, other than an employee authorized as a notarial officer under
15s. 706.07,
a chaplain, or a social worker, of an inpatient health care facility in which
16the principal is a patient.
SB655,12 17Section 12 . 155.10 (2) (d) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
SB655,9,1918 155.10 (2) (d) 4. A finance or billing officer of an inpatient health care facility
19in which the principal is a patient.
SB655,13 20Section 13 . 155.30 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB655,9,2521 155.30 (3) The department shall prepare and provide copies of a power of
22attorney for health care instrument and accompanying information for distribution
23in quantities to health care professionals, hospitals, nursing homes, multipurpose
24senior centers, county clerks, and local bar associations and individually to private
25persons. The department shall include, in information accompanying the copy of the

1instrument, at least the statutory definitions of terms used in the instrument,
2statutory restrictions on who may be witnesses to or be a notarial officer that takes
3an acknowledgment of
a valid instrument, a statement explaining that valid
4witnesses or notarial officers acting in good faith are statutorily immune from civil
5or criminal liability and a statement explaining that an instrument may, but need
6not, be filed with the register in probate of the principal's county of residence. The
7department may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of preparation and distribution.
8The power of attorney for health care instrument distributed by the department
9shall include the notice specified in sub. (1) and shall be in the following form:
SB655,10,1010 POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
SB655,10,1111 Document made this.... day of.... (month),.... (year).
SB655,10,1212 CREATION OF POWER OF ATTORNEY
SB655,10,1313 FOR HEALTH CARE
SB655,10,2114 I,.... (print name, address and date of birth), being of sound mind, intend by this
15document to create a power of attorney for health care. My executing this power of
16attorney for health care is voluntary. Despite the creation of this power of attorney
17for health care, I expect to be fully informed about and allowed to participate in any
18health care decision for me, to the extent that I am able. For the purposes of this
19document, “health care decision" means an informed decision to accept, maintain,
20discontinue or refuse any care, treatment, service or procedure to maintain, diagnose
21or treat my physical or mental condition.
SB655,10,2322 In addition, I may, by this document, specify my wishes with respect to making
23an anatomical gift upon my death.
SB655,10,2424 DESIGNATION OF HEALTH CARE AGENT
SB655,11,15
1If I am no longer able to make health care decisions for myself, due to my
2incapacity, I hereby designate.... (print name, address and telephone number) to be
3my health care agent for the purpose of making health care decisions on my behalf.
4If he or she is ever unable or unwilling to do so, I hereby designate.... (print name,
5address and telephone number) to be my alternate health care agent for the purpose
6of making health care decisions on my behalf. Neither my health care agent nor my
7alternate health care agent whom I have designated is my health care provider, an
8employee of my health care provider, an employee of a health care facility in which
9I am a patient or a spouse of any of those persons, unless he or she is also my relative.
10For purposes of this document, “incapacity" exists if 2 physicians or a physician and
11a psychologist who have personally examined me sign a statement that specifically
12expresses their opinion that I have a condition that means that I am unable to receive
13and evaluate information effectively or to communicate decisions to such an extent
14that I lack the capacity to manage my health care decisions. A copy of that statement
15must be attached to this document.
SB655,11,1616 GENERAL STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY GRANTED
SB655,11,2317 Unless I have specified otherwise in this document, if I ever have incapacity I
18instruct my health care provider to obtain the health care decision of my health care
19agent, if I need treatment, for all of my health care and treatment. I have discussed
20my desires thoroughly with my health care agent and believe that he or she
21understands my philosophy regarding the health care decisions I would make if I
22were able. I desire that my wishes be carried out through the authority given to my
23health care agent under this document.
SB655,12,724 If I am unable, due to my incapacity, to make a health care decision, my health
25care agent is instructed to make the health care decision for me, but my health care

1agent should try to discuss with me any specific proposed health care if I am able to
2communicate in any manner, including by blinking my eyes. If this communication
3cannot be made, my health care agent shall base his or her decision on any health
4care choices that I have expressed prior to the time of the decision. If I have not
5expressed a health care choice about the health care in question and communication
6cannot be made, my health care agent shall base his or her health care decision on
7what he or she believes to be in my best interest.
SB655,12,88 LIMITATIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
SB655,12,149 My health care agent may not admit or commit me on an inpatient basis to an
10institution for mental diseases, an intermediate care facility for persons with an
11intellectual disability, a state treatment facility or a treatment facility. My health
12care agent may not consent to experimental mental health research or
13psychosurgery, electroconvulsive treatment or drastic mental health treatment
14procedures for me.
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