Putting It In Writing First
NRS 449A.433 — a declaration about life-sustaining treatment, signed and attested by two witnesses
Signed, and two witnesses. In Nevada a person of sound mind and 18 or more years of age may at any time sign a declaration governing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, and may name another person of sound mind and 18 or older to make those decisions. The declaration is signed by the declarant, or by another at the declarant's direction, and attested by two witnesses.
A physician or other provider given a copy puts it in the medical record and, if unwilling to follow it, promptly says so to the declarant and to any person named to act. A properly executed durable power of attorney for health care that addresses life-sustaining treatment counts as a declaration.
When it takes effect. The declaration becomes operative when it is communicated to the attending physician or advanced practice registered nurse, and the declarant is found to be in a terminal condition and no longer able to make decisions about life-sustaining treatment. The providers then follow it and the instructions of the person named in it, or transfer the declarant's care.
A declarant may revoke it at any time and in any manner, whatever the declarant's mental or physical condition, effective once the declarant or a witness communicates the revocation to the provider, who records it.
The statutory forms, artificial nutrition and hydration, pregnancy, do-not-resuscitate orders and declarations from other states are in other sections not reproduced here. Drafting or interpreting one is a matter for a licensed Nevada attorney and the declarant's providers.
Sources for this section (3)
- NRS 449A.433 — Declaration relating to use of life-sustaining treatment
- NRS 449A.442 — Time declaration becomes operative; duty of providers of health care
- NRS 449A.445 — Revocation of declaration
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Nevada attorney.