§ 22-8A-5 — Revocation of Advance Directive for Health Care

Alabama § 22-8A-5

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 22: Health, Mental Health, and Environmental Control
• Ch. 8A: Termination of Life-Support Procedures

Text

(a) An advance directive for health care may be revoked at any time by the declarant by any of the following methods:
(1) By being obliterated, burnt, torn, or otherwise destroyed or defaced in a manner indicating intention to cancel;
(2) By a written revocation of the advance directive for health care signed and dated by the declarant or person acting at the direction of the declarant; or
(3) By a verbal expression of the intent to revoke the advance directive for health care in the presence of a witness 19 years of age or older who signs and dates a writing confirming that such expression of intent was made. Any verbal revocation shall become effective upon receipt by the attending physician or health care provider of the above mentioned writing. The attending physician or health care provider shall record in the patient’s medical record the time, date and place of when he or she received notification of the revocation.
(b) There shall be no criminal or civil liability on the part of any person for failure to act upon a revocation made pursuant to this section unless that person has actual knowledge of the revocation.

Legislative History

(Acts 1981, No. 81-772, p. 1329, §5; Acts 1997, No. 97-187, p. 281, §1.)