Can a client end or revoke a living will at any time?

Can a client end or revoke a living will at any time?

• A. Yes, at any time
• B. No, it is permanent once signed
• C. Only after death
• D. Only if doctors approve

Answer: (A)

A living will reflects your autonomy over medical decisions and can be changed or canceled at any time as long as you have decision-making capacity. If you later decide you want different choices, you can revoke it—by signing a new directive that cancels the old one, verbally informing your healthcare provider (where allowed by law), or even destroying the document. The key point is that revocation does not require anyone else’s approval; it simply requires that you clearly communicate your change while you’re still capable. Once you lose capacity, you can’t revoke in the same way, and after death the living will no longer governs treatment. Revisions or revocation should be communicated to all involved providers to ensure your wishes are followed.

A living will reflects your autonomy over medical decisions and can be changed or canceled at any time as long as you have decision-making capacity. If you later decide you want different choices, you can revoke it—by signing a new directive that cancels the old one, verbally informing your healthcare provider (where allowed by law), or even destroying the document. The key point is that revocation does not require anyone else’s approval; it simply requires that you clearly communicate your change while you’re still capable. Once you lose capacity, you can’t revoke in the same way, and after death the living will no longer governs treatment. Revisions or revocation should be communicated to all involved providers to ensure your wishes are followed.