What is a Medical Power of Attorney?
A Medical Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone, called your Agent, to make decisions for you and confer with physicians in times where you cannot do so yourself. For example, if you were in a car accident and were unconscious, your Medical Power of Attorney could discuss the best treatment plan for you and would decide what to do. The Agent may only make these types of decisions if a doctor has confirmed in writing that you are unable to do so. Once you are healthy enough to once again make decisions for yourself your Medical Power of Attorney can no longer act on your behalf.
Oftentimes people will appoint close friends or family members to assign as their Medical Power of Attorney. It is important that you discuss with your Agent your preferences for different scenarios so that they are acting in line with what you would choose were you able to make the decisions. Note that your doctor, employees of your doctor, or your residential health care provider or their employees, cannot be your Medical Power of Attorney.
As with other Powers of Attorney, you may revoke the Medical Power of Attorney at any time, but of course, you should alert your Agent that the Medical Power of Attorney has been revoked.
If you’d like to discuss whether a Medical Power of Attorney or other Powers of Attorney would be beneficial to you, feel free to give us a call to set up a consult with one of our experienced attorneys.
