topic | life planning - medical directives
Step 1: create a medical power of attorney
The first document of an advance directive, commonly called a Medical Power of Attorney, assigns an agent, who will act on behalf of an incapacitated patient. The patient can authorize the agent to act on healthcare responsibilities such as:
- Providing medical decisions that are not covered in the Living Will
- Enforcing healthcare wishes in court
- Hiring and releasing doctors, and medical staff
- Having access to medical records
- Having visitation rights
Medical Powers of Attorney are state specific. The National Hospice and Pallative Care Organization website provides samples for each state:
http://caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3289
Review the sample Medical Power of Attorney for your state, and consider agent selection and any limitations to be placed on that responsibility.
There are two steps required to complete this activity:
- Fill in the sample form obtained in Activity 1, where possible.
- Seek the advice of an estate attorney to complete and activate the state specific Medical Power of Attorney.
Best Practices
Review plans with the family physician who can explain the logic in the statements prepared (i.e. does suspending one type of treatment yet allow another, make sense?).
The completed document should be securely stored and copies distributed to others, such as the executor. An estate attorney can provide guidance.
A digital lockbox (http://www.myestatemanager.com/#dlb ) can securely store the Medical Power of Attorney and other estate documents.
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