(1) Upon receiving a directive, a health care provider, professional person, or health care facility providing treatment to the principal, or persons acting under the direction of the health care provider, professional person, or health care facility, shall make the directive a part of the principal’s medical record and shall be deemed to have actual knowledge of the directive’s contents.

(2) When acting under authority of a directive, a health care provider, professional person, or health care facility shall act in accordance with the provisions of the directive to the fullest extent possible, unless in the determination of the health care provider, professional person, or health care facility:

(a) Compliance with the provision would violate the accepted standard of care established in RCW 7.70.040;

(b) The requested treatment is not available;

(c) Compliance with the provision would violate applicable law; or

(d) It is an emergency situation and compliance would endanger any person’s life or health.

(3)(a) In the case of a principal committed or detained under the involuntary treatment provisions of chapter 10.77, 71.05, 71.09, or 71.34 RCW, those provisions of a principal’s directive that, in the determination of the health care provider, professional person, or health care facility, are inconsistent with the purpose of the commitment or with any order of the court relating to the commitment are invalid during the commitment.

(b) Remaining provisions of a principal’s directive are advisory while the principal is committed or detained.

The treatment provider is encouraged to follow the remaining provisions of the directive, except as provided in (a) of this subsection or subsection (2) of this section.

(4) In the case of a principal who is incarcerated or committed in a state or local correctional facility, provisions of the principal’s directive that are inconsistent with reasonable penological objectives or administrative hearings regarding involuntary medication are invalid during the period of incarceration or commitment. In addition, treatment may be given despite refusal of the principal or the provisions of the directive: (a) For any reason under subsection (2) of this section; or (b) if, without the benefit of the specific treatment measure, there is a significant possibility that the person will harm self or others before an improvement of the person’s condition occurs.

(5)(a) If the health care provider, professional person, or health care facility is, at the time of receiving the directive, unable or unwilling to comply with any part or parts of the directive for any reason, the health care provider, professional person, or health care facility shall promptly notify the principal and, if applicable, his or her agent and shall document the reason in the principal’s medical record.

(b) If the health care provider, professional person, or health care facility is acting under authority of a directive and is unable to comply with any part or parts of the directive for the reasons listed in subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the health care provider, professional person, or health care facility shall promptly notify the principal and if applicable, his or her agent, and shall document the reason in the principal’s medical record.

(6) In the event that one or more parts of the directive are not followed because of one or more of the reasons set forth in subsection (2) or (4) of this section, all other parts of the directive shall be followed.

(7) If no provider-patient relationship has previously been established, nothing in this chapter requires the establishment of a provider-patient relationship.

Effective dates—2016 sp.s. c 29: See note following RCW 71.05.760.

Short title—Right of action—2016 sp.s. c 29: See notes following RCW 71.05.010.