 |
 |
 |
Download medical power of attorney form in PDF format.
Choosing A Medical Power of Attorney Template
Before choosing a medical power of attorney template, you should acquaint yourself with how it impacts your health care decisions. There are different situations when it can be overwhelming for individuals to take their own health care decisions. Advanced aged is among the most common reasons, though chronic illnesses and major accidents can also challenge a person’s ability to effectively communicate his or her decisions to the health care provider. A medical power of attorney is one way you can effectively address such situations.
The individual executing the medical power of attorney is the principal and the person in whose favor the document is executed is the agent. A close relative or a doctor not in the employ of the hospital where the principal is undergoing treatment can be appointed as the agent. It is important that the principal is aware that the law permits the health care provider to take certain decisions depending on the medical assessment and exigencies when there is no specific medical power of attorney executed. This is particularly relevant in instances where a patient may like to remain on life support systems even after the medical team decides to withdraw the life support system. A medical power of attorney template will help you draw up a draft document for consultation with a legal professional or even execute the document without modifications when considered necessary.
The procedure for executing the document will remain the same even when you are using a medical power of attorney template. In the first place, the attending physician should certify in writing that the principal is no more in a position to take independent health care decisions for him/her. Once this certificate has been issued, two witnesses are required while executing the document. In some states, the law stipulates ‘qualified witnesses’ and when the principal resides in any of these states, this provision should be complied with. ‘Qualified witnesses’ are adults who are not related to the physician or the principal, competent to carry out the directions contained in the document and cannot be a business partner of the principal.
The medical power of attorney should now be notarized and copies forwarded to your physician, the agent, members of your family and any other individual concerned. The original document remain in the custody of the principal but accessible to the members of the family. Notice also that in some states, the witnesses may be required by law to confirm that the principal has read/understood the content of the document. The exact position of law applicable in your case must be confirmed from local attorneys even when the medical power of attorney template does not mention this requirement.
The principal has the ability to appoint different agents to look after his business/finance needs and health care decisions. In such situations, the medical power of attorney template alone may not be adequate and the individual will need competent legal advice.