§ 2985. Revocation. 1. Means of revoking proxy. (a) A competent adult may revoke a health care proxy by notifying the agent or a health care provider orally or in writing or by any other act evidencing a specific intent to revoke the proxy.

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Terms Used In N.Y. Public Health Law 2985

  • Adult: means any person who is eighteen years of age or older, or is the parent of a child, or has married. See N.Y. Public Health Law 2980
  • agent: means an adult to whom authority to make health care decisions is delegated under a health care proxy. See N.Y. Public Health Law 2980
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Health care: means any treatment, service or procedure to diagnose or treat an individual's physical or mental condition. See N.Y. Public Health Law 2980
  • Health care provider: means an individual or facility licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized or permitted by law to administer health care in the ordinary course of business or professional practice. See N.Y. Public Health Law 2980
  • Health care proxy: means a document delegating the authority to make health care decisions, executed in accordance with the requirements of this article. See N.Y. Public Health Law 2980
  • Nurse practitioner: means a nurse practitioner certified under § 6910 of the education law, practicing within his or her scope of practice. See N.Y. Public Health Law 2980
  • Principal: means a person who has executed a health care proxy. See N.Y. Public Health Law 2980

(b) For the purposes of this section, every adult shall be presumed competent unless determined otherwise pursuant to court order.

(c) A health care proxy shall also be revoked upon execution by the principal of a subsequent health care proxy.

(d) The creation by the principal of written wishes or instructions about health care, or limitations upon the agent's authority, shall not revoke a health care proxy unless such wishes, instructions or limitations expressly provide otherwise. Such wishes, instructions or limitations shall constitute evidence of the principal's wishes for purposes of subdivision two of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-two of this article.

(e) The appointment of the principal's spouse as health care agent shall be revoked upon the divorce or legal separation of the principal and spouse, unless the principal specifies otherwise.

2. Duty to record revocation. (a) A physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who is informed of or provided with a revocation of a health care proxy shall immediately (i) record the revocation in the principal's medical record and (ii) notify the agent and the medical staff responsible for the principal's care of the revocation.

(b) Any member of the staff of a health care provider informed of or provided with a revocation of a health care proxy pursuant to this section shall immediately notify a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner of such revocation.