What is a health care power of attorney?
A health care power of attorney is a legal document used to name someone and give them legal authority to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make your own. If a doctor determines that you are unable to make decisions for yourself, then your health care power of attorney can step in and make medical decisions for you. Having a health care power of attorney in place is the only way to ensure that medical decisions can be made on your behalf and that your wishes are carried out if you are determined to be incapacitated.
Who should have a health care power of attorney?
Every adult should have a health care power of attorney in place. Having a health care power of attorney in place can save your loved ones a lot of headaches, time and money in the future. If you do not have a health care power of attorney in place when you become medically incapacitated, then your loved ones might have to pursue costly court proceedings to get authority to make decisions, which is the last thing they need during a crisis.
Who should be your health care power of attorney?
You want to choose someone that you trust to make sound decisions. It is not necessary to have a background in health care, only that he or she exercises good judgment and can comprehend directions from a doctor. You also want to make sure that you discuss your wishes with the person you select as your health care power of attorney so that any specific instructions or scenarios are covered.
If you do not have a health care power of attorney in place yet or have not had your existing health care power of attorney reviewed recently, call Alex Carr Law, LLC today to schedule a consultation.
