Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 54 - Health Care
Section 5457 - Countermand


(a) Competent principal.--A principal of sound mind may countermand any health care decision made by the principal's health care agent at any time and in any manner by personally informing the attending physician or health care provider.
(b) Incompetent principal.--Regardless of the principal's mental or physical capacity, a principal may countermand a health care decision made by the principal's health care agent that would withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment at any time and in any manner by personally informing the attending physician.
(c) Attending physician.--The attending physician or health care provider shall make reasonable efforts to promptly inform the health care agent of a countermand under this section.
(d) Health care agent.--A countermand exercised under this section shall not affect the authority of a health care agent to make other health care decisions in accordance with the health care power of attorney.

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Title 20 - DECEDENTS, ESTATES AND FIDUCIARIES

Chapter 54 - Health Care

Extra - Chapter Notes

Section 5421 - Applicability

Section 5422 - Definitions

Section 5423 - Legislative findings and intent

Section 5424 - Compliance

Section 5425 - Conflicting advance health care directives

Section 5426 - Death not suicide or homicide

Section 5427 - Life insurance

Section 5428 - Health care instruments optional

Section 5429 - Pregnancy

Section 5430 - Effect of divorce

Section 5431 - Liability

Section 5432 - Criminal penalties

Section 5433 - Forms

Section 5434 - Construction

Section 5441 - Short title of subchapter

Section 5442 - Execution

Section 5443 - When living will operative

Section 5444 - Revocation

Section 5445 - Emergency medical services

Section 5446 - Validity

Section 5447 - Form

Section 5451 - Short title of subchapter

Section 5452 - Execution

Section 5453 - Requirements and options

Section 5454 - When health care power of attorney operative

Section 5455 - Appointment of health care agents

Section 5456 - Authority of health care agent

Section 5457 - Countermand

Section 5458 - Amendment

Section 5459 - Revocation

Section 5460 - Relation of health care agent to court-appointed guardian and other agents

Section 5461 - Decisions by health care representative

Section 5462 - Duties of attending physician and health care provider

Section 5463 - Effect on other State law

Section 5464 - Validity

Section 5465 - Form

Section 5471 - Example

Section 5481 - Short title of subchapter

Section 5482 - Legislative findings and intent

Section 5483 - Definitions

Section 5484 - Orders, bracelets and necklaces

Section 5485 - Revocation

Section 5486 - Absence of order, bracelet or necklace

Section 5487 - Emergency medical services

Section 5488 - Advisory committee