Can a patient void or revoke a POLST Form?

Can a patient void or revoke a POLST Form?

• A. No, once signed it cannot be changed.
• B. Yes, a patient with decision-making capacity can void or revoke it.
• C. Only a physician can revoke.
• D. It auto-revokes after 12 months.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is patient control over their own medical orders. A POLST is a set of medical orders that reflects the patient’s current preferences for life-sustaining treatment, and it remains valid as long as the patient has decision-making capacity. If the patient can decide, they can void or revoke the POLST at any time—whether they say it aloud, sign a note to revoke, or have a clinician document a revocation. Once revoked, providers should honor that change and act according to the patient’s new wishes or any other directives. If the patient lacks capacity, a legally authorized representative or surrogate can revoke or modify the POLST in line with the patient’s known wishes and applicable law. There is no automatic expiration after a fixed period in most policies, and the form doesn’t require physician revocation; physicians can discuss and guide decisions, but the patient (or their surrogate when capacity is lacking) is the one who can revoke.

The main idea here is patient control over their own medical orders. A POLST is a set of medical orders that reflects the patient’s current preferences for life-sustaining treatment, and it remains valid as long as the patient has decision-making capacity. If the patient can decide, they can void or revoke the POLST at any time—whether they say it aloud, sign a note to revoke, or have a clinician document a revocation. Once revoked, providers should honor that change and act according to the patient’s new wishes or any other directives.

If the patient lacks capacity, a legally authorized representative or surrogate can revoke or modify the POLST in line with the patient’s known wishes and applicable law. There is no automatic expiration after a fixed period in most policies, and the form doesn’t require physician revocation; physicians can discuss and guide decisions, but the patient (or their surrogate when capacity is lacking) is the one who can revoke.