Wis. Stat. » CHAPTER 154 — ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 154.01 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026
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154.01154.01 Definitions. In this chapter:
154.01(1g)(1g) “Advanced practice registered nurse” means an individual licensed under s. 441.09.
Effective date noteNOTE: Sub. (1g) is shown as amended eff. 9-1-26 by 2025 Wis. Act 17. Prior to 9-1-26 it reads:
Effective date text(1g) “Advanced practice registered nurse” means a nurse licensed under ch. 441 who is currently certified by a national certifying body approved by the board of nursing as a nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, or clinical nurse specialist.
154.01(1r)(1r) “Attending health care professional” means a health care professional who has primary responsibility for the treatment and care of the patient.
154.01(2g)(2g) “Department” means the department of health services.
154.01(3)(3) “Health care professional” means any of the following:
154.01(3)(a)(a) A physician licensed under ch. 448.
154.01(3)(b)(b) A physician assistant.
154.01(3)(c)(c) An advanced practice registered nurse.
154.01(4)(4) “Inpatient health care facility” has the meaning provided under s. 50.135 (1) and includes community-based residential facilities, as defined in s. 50.01 (1g).
154.01(5)(5) “Life-sustaining procedure” means any medical procedure or intervention that, in the judgment of the attending health care professional, would serve only to prolong the dying process but not avert death when applied to a qualified patient. “Life-sustaining procedure” includes assistance in respiration, artificial maintenance of blood pressure and heart rate, blood transfusion, kidney dialysis and other similar procedures, but does not include:
154.01(5)(a)(a) The alleviation of pain by administering medication or by performing any medical procedure.
154.01(5)(b)(b) The provision of nutrition or hydration.
154.01(5m)(5m) “Persistent vegetative state” means a condition that reasonable medical judgment finds constitutes complete and irreversible loss of all of the functions of the cerebral cortex and results in a complete, chronic and irreversible cessation of all cognitive functioning and consciousness and a complete lack of behavioral responses that indicate cognitive functioning, although autonomic functions continue.
154.01(8)(8) “Terminal condition” means an incurable condition caused by injury or illness that reasonable medical judgment finds would cause death imminently, so that the application of life-sustaining procedures serves only to postpone the moment of death.
154.01 HistoryHistory: 1983 a. 202; 1985 a. 199; 1987 a. 161 s. 13m; 1991 a. 84; 1993 a. 27; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 1995 a. 168, 200; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2019 a. 90, 100; 2021 a. 23; 2023 a. 81; 2025 a. 17.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1992–1996 · leading case: Ritt v. Dental Care Assocs., S.C., 543 N.W.2d 852 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995).
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Ritt v. Dental Care Assocs., S.C., 543 N.W.2d 852 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 2× “448 (Medical Practices) or ch. 455 (Psychology Examining Board).”
In Matter of Guardianship of LW, 482 N.W.2d 60 (Wis. 1992). · cites it 2× “[15] Section 154.01(5m), Stats., provides: "Persistent vegetative state" means a condition that reasonable medical judgment finds constitutes complete and irreversible loss of all of the functions of the cerebral cortex and results in a complete, chronic and irreversible…”
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). · cites it 3× “) (permanent unconscious condition); Wis.Stat.Ann. § 154.01(5m) (West 1989 & Supp.”
Lenz v. L.E. Phillips Career Dev. Ctr., 482 N.W.2d 60 (Wis. 1992). · cites it 2× “Section 154.01(5m), Stats., provides: "Persistent vegetative state” means a condition that reasonable medical judgment finds constitutes complete and irreversible loss of all of the functions of the cerebral cortex and results in a complete, chronic and irreversible cessation of…”
— Wis. Stat. § 154.01(3) — 1 case
Ritt v. Dental Care Assocs., S.C., 543 N.W.2d 852 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995). “448 (Medical Practices) or ch. 455 (Psychology Examining Board).”
— Wis. Stat. § 154.01(5m) — 3 cases
In Matter of Guardianship of LW, 482 N.W.2d 60 (Wis. 1992). “[15] Section 154.01(5m), Stats., provides: "Persistent vegetative state" means a condition that reasonable medical judgment finds constitutes complete and irreversible loss of all of the functions of the cerebral cortex and results in a complete, chronic and irreversible…”
Lenz v. L.E. Phillips Career Dev. Ctr., 482 N.W.2d 60 (Wis. 1992). “Section 154.01(5m), Stats., provides: "Persistent vegetative state” means a condition that reasonable medical judgment finds constitutes complete and irreversible loss of all of the functions of the cerebral cortex and results in a complete, chronic and irreversible cessation of…”
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “) (permanent unconscious condition); Wis.Stat.Ann. § 154.01(5m) (West 1989 & Supp.”
— Wis. Stat. § 154.01(6) — 1 case
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “) (permanent unconscious condition); Wis.Stat.Ann. § 154.01(5m) (West 1989 & Supp.”
— Wis. Stat. § 154.01(8) — 1 case
Compassion in Dying v. Washington, 79 F.3d 790 (9th Cir. 1996). “) (permanent unconscious condition); Wis.Stat.Ann. § 154.01(5m) (West 1989 & Supp.”
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