A medical power of attorney, which may also be called an advanced directive, or an advanced healthcare directive, or a medical power of attorney directive, allows you to choose a trusted person, as your proxy, to make decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated and cannot communicate your wishes for treatment. This document allows you to communicate what types of treatments or procedures you would want, including life sustaining care, such as a ventilator or feeding tube, surgeries, choosing facilities or medical providers, use of pain medications and various treatment options such as radiation or chemotherapy, and gives this person access to your medical records. This document can be structured for specific treatments or a broader scope of circumstances. A medical power of attorney document protects you and helps loved ones and the healthcare team understand your wishes and will guide your care but also gives legal authority to the proxy to act on your behalf, as your condition may be complex, and change over the course of treatment.
A trusted person you chose may include a spouse, a child or family member or anyone close to you that can be trusted to relay your wishes, interact with the health care team with questions and understands the information being given regarding your health and prognosis and be mature enough to handle the stress and emotions in this challenging time.
A medical power of attorney does not give that person the legal authority to access your finances or pay your bills. A separate financial power of attorney is needed for those decisions.
Many people have a living will, which is also an advanced medical directive. This document typically addresses end of life situations, such as treatments and procedures a person would want, for example, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, feeding tube, intubation with mechanical ventilation, or use of antibiotics, and is also legally binding.
These legal documents will become part of your records. States have different requirements for how these documents will be completed but often it can be done from an online document and then notarized with witnesses. Research your state requirements for completing and legalizing these documents.
Once this is completed, you can give a copy to your physician as part of your medical records, and a copy for your proxy, your attorney, and anyone you would want to know your wishes. It is recommended to keep this document in a safe place, along with other legal documents such as your will and other estate planning documents.
it is also good practice to periodically review the document and update if needed, as circumstances can change over time.
Having these documents may give you peace of mind that your wishes will be carried out and help your loved ones cope in a stressful time, while carrying out your wishes.