Written by Benjamin Kingsley
Do you have questions about or need assistance with a power of attorney? Please click here to email us at contact@legalandme.com.
Do you need a power of attorney form? We make a do-it-yourself power of attorney: finance power of attorney or healthcare power of attorney.
A healthcare power of attorney, also known as a medical power of attorney or healthcare proxy, is a legal document that allows an individual (the principal) to designate someone else (the agent) to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated. The types of decisions a healthcare power of attorney can make generally include:
1. Medical treatment decisions: The agent can consent to or refuse medical treatments, surgeries, and other procedures on behalf of the principal. This may include decisions about life-sustaining treatments, pain management, and experimental treatments.
2. Choice of healthcare providers and facilities: The agent can select doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities for the principal’s care. They may also have the authority to transfer the principal to different facilities if deemed necessary.
3. Access to medical records: The agent is typically granted access to the principal’s medical records to make informed decisions about their care.
4. End-of-life decisions: In many cases, the healthcare power of attorney can make decisions regarding life support, artificial nutrition and hydration, and other end-of-life care options, in accordance with the principal’s previously expressed wishes or best interests.
5. Organ and tissue donation: The agent may have the authority to make decisions about organ and tissue donation, unless the principal has made their wishes explicitly known through other means.
6. Mental health treatment: In some jurisdictions, the healthcare power of attorney may extend to decisions about mental health treatment, including hospitalization and medication.
It is important to note that the specific powers granted to a healthcare agent can vary depending on the language used in the power of attorney document and the laws of the jurisdiction. Additionally, the agent is generally expected to make decisions based on the principal’s known wishes or best interests, and may be required to consult with medical professionals before making certain decisions.
Do you have questions about or need assistance with a power of attorney? Please click here to email us at contact@legalandme.com.
Do you need a power of attorney form? We make a do-it-yourself power of attorney: finance power of attorney or healthcare power of attorney.