Full question:
I have a living will and want to revoke it. Is there a formal revocation procedure which I need to follow or is simple destruction sufficient?
- Category: Living Wills
- Date:
- State: Washington
Answer:
A living will (or health care directive) can be revoked at any time by the declarant, regardless of their mental state or competency. There are several methods to revoke it:
By destroying the document: This can be done by canceling, defacing, burning, tearing, or otherwise destroying it, either by the declarant or someone in their presence and at their direction.
By a written revocation: The declarant can express their intent to revoke in writing, which must be signed and dated. This revocation takes effect once communicated to the attending physician, who will record the time and date of this notification in the medical record.
By verbal expression: The declarant can verbally express their intent to revoke the directive. This revocation also takes effect only after communication to the attending physician, who must document the time, date, and place of the revocation and when they received the notification.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.
