What does a health care power of attorney do?
A medical power of attorney (or healthcare power of attorney) is a legal document that lets you give someone legal authority to make important decisions about your medical care. These decisions could be about treatment options, medication, surgery, end-of-life care, and more.
How do you appoint someone to make medical decisions?
You can formally appoint a close friend or family member to be your medical treatment decision maker by completing a legal document . In the event that you cannot make decisions for yourself, your medical treatment decision maker will be obligated to act in a way that promotes your personal and social wellbeing.
Who is next of kin for medical decisions?
‘Next of kin’ is an informal term commonly used to refer to a person’s immediate or close family members. The term is not recognised in the laws about decision-making for health care or medical treatment.
Why do you need a health care power of attorney?
You need a Health Care Power of Attorney and a Living Will to ensure your loved one is able to assist with decision making when you are unable to do so. Plus, you need these documents to be sure that your wishes are honored, especially with regard to end of life choices.
When do you need a health care power of attorney?
Obtain a durable power of attorney for health care if your spouse desires to designate you to make medical decisions if he becomes incapacitated and unable to make these decisions independently. Hospitals, medical centers as well as churches and religious personnel usually have durable power of attorney for health care forms.
What can a power of attorney really do?
A general power of attorney gives broad powers to a person or organization (known as an agent or attorney-in-fact) to act in your behalf. These powers include handling financial and business transactions, buying life insurance, settling claims, operating business interests, making gifts, and employing professional help.
Does a durable power of attorney for health care ever expire?
This type of power of attorney only relates to healthcare decisions and usually does not expire until the principal dies or is no longer in need of the specific medical care, at which point it expires. A durable power of attorney is the most pervasive and encompassing legal provision a principal can grant to the agent.
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