You may choose to have your advance directive become effective with some event other than a determination of incapacity. There can be problems, however, in getting your advance directive carried out if this is the only option you choose for when your advance directive becomes effective.

As long as you have capacity, you may revoke your advance directive. So, if you want your advance directive to come into effect with an event other than incapacity, but object to receiving treatment at that time, you won't receive the treatment. This is so because you have capacity to refuse the treatment and to revoke your advance directive.

To protect against this problem, some people choose to include more than one alternative as to when their advance directive will become effective. In the form in the back of this book, there are several options included for when an advance directive may become effective. Some individuals select more than one option. For example, it could become effective when you have been determined to lack capacity OR when a qualified professional determines that you meet standards for an involuntary admission to a psychiatric hospital.