Wash. Rev. Code » Title 70 · Chapter 70.122
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.122.020 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions contained in this section shall apply throughout this chapter.
(1) "Adult person" means a person who has attained the age of majority as defined in RCW 26.28.010 and 26.28.015, and who has the capacity to make health care decisions.
(2) "Attending physician" means the physician selected by, or assigned to, the patient who has primary responsibility for the treatment and care of the patient.
(3) "Directive" means a written document voluntarily executed by the declarer generally consistent with the guidelines of RCW 70.122.030.
(4) "Health facility" means a hospital as defined in RCW 70.41.020 or a nursing home as defined in RCW 18.51.010, a home health agency or hospice agency as defined in RCW 70.126.010, or an assisted living facility as defined in RCW 18.20.020.
(5) "Life-sustaining treatment" means any medical or surgical intervention that uses mechanical or other artificial means, including artificially provided nutrition and hydration, to sustain, restore, or replace a vital function, which, when applied to a qualified patient, would serve only to prolong the process of dying. "Life-sustaining treatment" shall not include the administration of medication or the performance of any medical or surgical intervention deemed necessary solely to alleviate pain.
(6) "Permanent unconscious condition" means an incurable and irreversible condition in which the patient is medically assessed within reasonable medical judgment as having no reasonable probability of recovery from an irreversible coma or a persistent vegetative state.
(7) "Physician" means a person licensed under chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW.
(8) "Qualified patient" means an adult person who is a patient diagnosed in writing to have a terminal condition by the patient's attending physician, who has personally examined the patient, or a patient who is diagnosed in writing to be in a permanent unconscious condition in accordance with accepted medical standards by two physicians, one of whom is the patient's attending physician, and both of whom have personally examined the patient.
(9) "Terminal condition" means an incurable and irreversible condition caused by injury, disease, or illness, that, within reasonable medical judgment, will cause death within a reasonable period of time in accordance with accepted medical standards, and where the application of life-sustaining treatment serves only to prolong the process of dying.
[ 2025 c 58 s 2040; 2012 c 10 s 53; 1992 c 98 s 2; 1979 c 112 s 3.]

Notes:

Explanatory note—2025 c 58: See note following RCW 1.16.050.
Application—2012 c 10: See note following RCW 18.20.010.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 1984–2008 · leading case: Farnam v. Crista Ministries, 807 P.2d 830 (Wash. 1991).
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Farnam v. Crista Ministries, 807 P.2d 830 (Wash. 1991). · cites it 12× “RCW 70.122.020(4). A qualified patient is a competent, terminally ill patient or an incompetent, terminally ill patient having issued a directive, before becoming incompetent, which indicated a desire to forgo treatment.”
McNabb v. Dep't of Corr., 180 P.3d 1257 (Wash. 2008). · cites it 3× “" RCW 70.122.020(5). "Terminal condition" means "an incurable and irreversible condition .”
McNabb v. Dep't of Corr., 163 Wash. 2d 393 (Wash. 2008). · cites it 2× “RCW 70.122.020(9). McNabb endured a medical treatment that effectively saved him from the condition hastening his death, and therefore the NDA is inapplicable here.”
Compassion In Dying v. State Of Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). · cites it 4× “In its Natural Death Act, RCW 70.122.020 et seq., Washington permits adults to have "life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.”
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). · cites it 6× “In its Natural Death Act, RCW 70.122.020 et seq., Washington permits adults to have “life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.”
DiNino v. State, 684 P.2d 1297 (Wash. 1984). · cites it 2× “RCW 70.122.020. The act defines "directive" as: "a written document voluntarily executed by the declarer in accordance with the requirements of RCW 70.”
In Re Est. of Longeway, 549 N.E.2d 292 (Ill. 1989). “ath Act defines life-sustaining procedures as: "any medical or surgical procedure or intervention which utilizes mechanical or other artificial means to sustain, restore, or supplant a vital function, which, when applied to a qualified patient, would serve only to artificially…”
Keiner v. Cmty. Convalescent Ctr., 549 N.E.2d 292 (Ill. 1989). “es life-sustaining procedures as: “any medical or surgical procedure or intervention which utilizes mechanical or other artificial means to sustain, restore, or supplant a vital function, which, when applied to a qualified patient, would serve only to artificially prolong the…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 70.122.020(4) — 1 case
Farnam v. Crista Ministries, 807 P.2d 830 (Wash. 1991). “RCW 70.122.020(4). A qualified patient is a competent, terminally ill patient or an incompetent, terminally ill patient having issued a directive, before becoming incompetent, which indicated a desire to forgo treatment.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 70.122.020(5) — 3 cases
McNabb v. Dep't of Corr., 180 P.3d 1257 (Wash. 2008). “" RCW 70.122.020(5). "Terminal condition" means "an incurable and irreversible condition .”
Compassion In Dying v. State Of Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “In its Natural Death Act, RCW 70.122.020 et seq., Washington permits adults to have "life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.”
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “In its Natural Death Act, RCW 70.122.020 et seq., Washington permits adults to have “life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 70.122.020(6) — 3 cases
Farnam v. Crista Ministries, 807 P.2d 830 (Wash. 1991). “RCW 70.122.020(4). A qualified patient is a competent, terminally ill patient or an incompetent, terminally ill patient having issued a directive, before becoming incompetent, which indicated a desire to forgo treatment.”
Compassion In Dying v. State Of Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “In its Natural Death Act, RCW 70.122.020 et seq., Washington permits adults to have "life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.”
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “In its Natural Death Act, RCW 70.122.020 et seq., Washington permits adults to have “life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 70.122.020(7) — 1 case
Farnam v. Crista Ministries, 807 P.2d 830 (Wash. 1991). “RCW 70.122.020(4). A qualified patient is a competent, terminally ill patient or an incompetent, terminally ill patient having issued a directive, before becoming incompetent, which indicated a desire to forgo treatment.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 70.122.020(8) — 1 case
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “In its Natural Death Act, RCW 70.122.020 et seq., Washington permits adults to have “life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 70.122.020(9) — 4 cases
McNabb v. Dep't of Corr., 163 Wash. 2d 393 (Wash. 2008). “RCW 70.122.020(9). McNabb endured a medical treatment that effectively saved him from the condition hastening his death, and therefore the NDA is inapplicable here.”
McNabb v. Dep't of Corr., 180 P.3d 1257 (Wash. 2008). “" RCW 70.122.020(5). "Terminal condition" means "an incurable and irreversible condition .”
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “In its Natural Death Act, RCW 70.122.020 et seq., Washington permits adults to have “life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.”
Compassion In Dying v. State Of Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “In its Natural Death Act, RCW 70.122.020 et seq., Washington permits adults to have "life-sustaining treatment withheld or withdrawn in instances of a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness.”
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