PA End-of-Life Decisions
By Sean Quinlan, Esq. · Updated January 15, 2025
Generic Pennsylvania living wills cover ventilators and feeding tubes — but the day-to-day end-of-life decisions are often subtler.
Common provisions
Mechanical ventilation, CPR, artificial nutrition/hydration, dialysis, blood transfusions.
Underweighted issues
IV antibiotics, hospitalization vs. comfort-only nursing home, sedation level preferences, faith-based directives.
Hospice transition
An advance directive should explicitly authorize hospice election by the agent — many directives leave this unclear.
This article is general information about Pennsylvania law as of the update date above. It is not legal advice for your situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice on your specific facts, please schedule a consultation.
Talk with a Pennsylvania estate planning attorney.
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