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A Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to decide who you want to make medical
decision on your behalf if you became incapacitated. Acting in accordance with
your will, your partner (or other agent) would not be able to make the ultimate
decision to shut off life support. However, most states now give you the power
to specify through a Living Will, also known as a medical or doctor's directive,
under what circumstances you would want to discontinue treatment and shut off the
machines keeping you alive artificially.
You may also name an alternate agent to act for you if your first choice is not
willing, able, or reasonably available to make decisions for you. Your agent may
not be an operator or employee of a community care facility or a residential care
facility where you are receiving care, or your supervising health care provider
or employee of the health care institution where you are receiving care, unless
your agent is related to you or is a co-worker.
You should consider completing a new Living Will declaration if your medical
condition changes, or if you later decide to complete a Health Care Power of
Attorney. If you have both documents, you should keep copies of both documents
together, with your other important papers, and bring copies of both your
Living Will and your Health Care Power of Attorney with you whenever you are
a patient in a health care facility.
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