Can Advance Directives Be Changed or Revoked?

Yes, individuals can change or revoke their advance directives at any time as long as they are capable of making their own decisions. Advance directives are intended to be living documents that are updated as needed based on the values and goals of the individual. If there are changes in treatment preferences, their health status, or if they have experienced a major life event, individuals are encouraged to update their advance directives to reflect those changes. 

In fact, it is highly recommended to review advance directives regularly and update as often as needed. 

Any changes that are made to an advance directive should be shared with family, loved ones, the health care agent, and the relevant care team to ensure they are aware of the updates. Although advance directives can be changed at any time, there are instances when revoking an advance directive may be more convenient. Potential scenarios where revoking an advance directive is more appropriate than updating it can include: 

• Naming a new agent responsible for making decisions, ensuring that it is clear who has the newly appointed authority
• When beliefs and values have changed significantly and updating is more time-consuming compared to establishing a new advance directive
• When the previous advance directive has too many unclear instructions and creates too much ambiguity regarding the actions that need to be taken 

While oral revocations of advance directives can be acceptable, it is highly encouraged to have written documentation of the revocation and to destroy former documents that are no longer applicable. This helps to establish more clarity regarding which documents are current. Finally, although advance directives can be established without hiring an attorney, it is advisable to seek professional guidance when determining whether an advance directive should be revoked or updated to reflect recent preferences and values. 

Sources

“Frequently Asked Questions About Advance Directives”. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/making-treatment-decisions/advance-directives/faqs.html 

“Revoking Your Health Care Directive”. Quicken WillMaker. https://www.willmaker.com/legal-manual/health-care-directives/revoking-your-health-care-directive.html