Healthcare Power of Attorney

Decisions a Health Care Agent will have to make can vary. They might need to communicate the type of treatment a patient wants, whether life-support should be used, and which conditions to treat. Finally, they’ll have to make end-of-life decisions.

A Healthcare Power of Attorney can be revoked at any point, as long as the patient is able to make rational medical decisions. Furthermore, if a party appoints a spouse as a Health Care Agent, but they get divorced, a Healthcare Power of Attorney will be revoked, as well. In that situation, you need a Revocation of a Power of Attorney. You can easily get one at Swyft Forms.

What happens if my doctor doesn’t want to follow a Healthcare Power of Attorney?

Although notarizing a Healthcare Power of Attorney isn’t necessary, it ensures no party can forge signatures in the future. Plus, it makes a Healthcare Power of Attorney more effective.

No, a Living Will isn’t the same as a Healthcare Power of Attorney. While a Healthcare Power of Attorney authorizes an individual to make sound medical decisions on your behalf, a Living Will outlines how you want to be treated in end-of-life circumstances.

No. There are some restrictions about who you can choose as a healthcare agent. There are also common-sense reasons why you should exclude certain individuals as healthcare agents.

Someone who is mentally incapable, under the age of 18, an operator of a healthcare facility in your community, non-relative employee at a healthcare facility, or your personal healthcare provider should not be your healthcare agent.