DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTHCARE

More and more people are concerned about what will happen to them if they become too ill to make their own medical decisions. Many people choose to have advance directives. There are two forms of advance directives. One is a durable power of attorney for healthcare, or healthcare proxy. The other is a living will or medical directive. Some people have a combination of the two.

Laws vary from state to state regarding advance directives. If you live in more than one state, then medical directives are needed for each state. Contact an attorney or a hospital in your area for information about your state's laws.

Advance directives have several functions. These are:

To decide ahead of time what medical procedures you do or do not want. This usually involves decisions about breathing machines, CPR, food, water, and medications.
To assist your family in making decisions.
To make sure your wishes are followed if they are different from your family's wishes.

You will be asked about the existence of your advance directive at the time of admission to a healthcare facility. A durable power of attorney for healthcare is not the same as a regular power of attorney. You must have a specific durable power of attorney for healthcare if you want the person with your power of attorney to make healthcare decisions for you. In it, you designate a person who makes medical decisions for you if you are too ill and unable to make them. Most people choose to have a family member or close friend be the decision-maker.

Many healthcare providers suggest that all people, no matter what their age or health, should have either a durable power of attorney for healthcare or a living will. Make sure your healthcare provider also has a copy of any legal documents that affect your healthcare. Discuss your choices with your healthcare provider so you are confident that your wishes are understood and respected, and the provider is willing to carry them out.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File AGIN3373.RF2 VRS# 7823 Data Version 7.0