How does a Health Care Power of Attorney differ from a Living Will?
The Health Care Power of Attorney appoints someone you name to make medical care decisions for you if you cannot make your own medical decisions. It applies to more situations than the living will, which was discussed above. The Health Care Power of Attorney gives the person you name as your agent the authority to make a wide range of medical decisions on your behalf. Your agent, once you are unable to communicate you wishes, is given the power to act on your behalf to make health and mental health decisions (outside of a locked facility) It also gives your agent access to your medical information and authority to fully participate with your treating physicians in deciding the care you receive.
From a DNR order? Another kind of advance directive available under Ohio law is called the health care power of attorney. This is a document that names another person (usually a spouse, child, or other relative, and preferably someone who can understand your health status and make potentially difficult decisions on your behalf, if necessary) to make health care decisions for you whenever you are unable to do so yourself. These decisions could range from something as simple as whether to see a doctor to something as significant as whether to have surgery or to discontinue treatment. Unlike a health care power of attorney, a living will expresses your wishes directly to the health care provider and applies only if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. A health care power of attorney is not a DNR order, though it ordinarily would permit the person you appoint to agree to a DNR order for you, if you are unable to express your wishes at the time. More information about advance
