Nobody looks forward to contemplating being disabled and being incapable of making decisions about their life. Nobody looks forward to contemplating their own demise. With what has happened in the world over the past quarter, the consideration of these events are, unfortunately, something that prudent people must consider. Specifically, what are called “advanced directives” or durable powers of attorney for health care and financial. This post will cover the Durable power of attorney for health care.
A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is a document that lets you name someone else to make decisions about your health care in case you are not able to make those decisions yourself. It gives that person (called your agent) instructions about the kinds of medical treatment you want.
You have a right to decide what kind of medical treatment you do and do not want. If you have specific wishes about your health care, a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care will ensure that those wishes are honored even if you are physically or mentally unable to tell your doctors what you want.
Even if you do not have specific wishes about your health care, a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care will ensure that someone you trust will make your medical decisions if you cannot do so.
If you do not have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and are physically or mentally unable to tell your doctors what you want, the following people, in order of priority, are legally authorized to make your health care decisions for you:
- Your court-appointed guardian or conservator;
- Your spouse or domestic partner;
- Your adult child;
- Your adult sibling;
- A close friend; or
- Your nearest living relative.
To make a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, you sign a paper saying that you want a certain person or persons (called your agent(s)) to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make those decisions yourself.
Your agent can make a wide range of health care decisions, including:
- Whether to admit or discharge you from a hospital or nursing home;
- Which treatments or medicines you do or do not want to receive; and
- Who has access to your medical records.
Your agent can only make these decisions if you cannot do so yourself, and your agent must follow your wishes when making these decisions.
You must say so in writing. When you make a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, you can:
- State when you do or do not want your doctors to use machines to keep you alive;
- State when you do or do not want to be hooked up to feeding tubes that provide you with food and water;
- Tell your agent how you want your body disposed of when you die;
- State whether you want to donate any organs; and
- Name a person you want to be your legal guardian, if necessary.
If you live in Missouri, you may use the form below:
missouri-medical-power-of-attorney-formIf you live in any of the other 49 states you can find a downloadable form at https://powerofattorney.com/medical-power-attorney/
The choice is yours to make, choose wisely.