Question

A patient who wrote a living will has changed his mind about the initiation of life-sustaining measures. Which statement is true about this

he cannot change his mind regarding the content of the living will
he can only change the content if he is of sound mind
a healthcare provider is exempt from liability if they provide care outside the living will
an attorney must be consulted if the living will is changed at any time

Answer 1

The statement that is true about a patient who wrote a living will and has changed his mind about the initiation of life-sustaining measures is:

• He can only change the content if he is of sound mind:

A living will is a legal document that outlines a person's wishes regarding medical treatment if they become unable to make decisions for themselves. If a patient changes his mind about the contents of the living will, he can only do so if he is of sound mind and able to make decisions for himself at the time of the change.

The other statements are not true:

• He can change his mind about the content of the living will if he is of sound mind.
• Healthcare providers may still be liable if they provide care outside the living will without proper justification and explanation to the patient or their family.
• An attorney does not necessarily have to be consulted if the living will is changed, but it is recommended to ensure that the legal requirements for changing the document are met.

Answer 2

he can only change the content if he is of sound mind.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement is: he can only change the content if he is of sound mind.

A living will is a legal document that outlines an individual's healthcare preferences in the event they become incapacitated and unable to make decisions. The document typically specifies whether the individual wants life-sustaining measures to be used to prolong their life in case of a terminal illness or injury.

If the patient who wrote the living will changes their mind about the initiation of life-sustaining measures, they can revoke or modify the living will as long as they are of sound mind. They must communicate their new wishes to their healthcare provider and make the changes in writing.

Healthcare providers must follow the patient's current wishes, whether they are expressed in the living will or through other means of communication. Failure to do so can result in liability for the healthcare provider.

Consulting an attorney is not necessarily required to change a living will, but it may be advisable in some cases to ensure that the document is legally valid and enforceable.