How can Declarant A revoke a living will before surgery?

Full question:

Declarant A executed a living will prior to a previous surgery indicating his wishes regarding life sustaining measures in the event that he lost the ability to make these decisions. Declarant A has had a change of heart regarding the living will and is scheduled for upcoming heart surgery. What should Declarant A do to revoke the previous living will?

Answer:

To revoke the previous living will, Declarant A can either:

  • Prepare a written revocation that is signed and dated by them, or
  • Make an oral statement of revocation to their attending physician.

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.

FAQs

An example of a living will directive is a statement that specifies a person's wishes regarding medical treatment if they become unable to communicate. For instance, a directive may state that if a person is terminally ill, they do not want to receive life-sustaining treatments such as mechanical ventilation or resuscitation.