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What is a Power of Attorney for Healthcare?

April 26, 2017advance medical directive Bereavement death dying Healthcare living wills patient rights power of attorney

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What is a Power of Attorney for Healthcare?

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A Power of Attorney for Healthcare is one type of advance medical directive. It is a document authorizing someone you trust to make healthcare decisions on your behalf should you be unable to make and communicate those decisions to your healthcare providers. This person is known as your healthcare agent. Your healthcare providers, their employees, or their spouses cannot serve as your healthcare agent unless they are one of your relatives. In the Power of Attorney for Healthcare, you give certain powers to your healthcare agent and in doing so, provide information about which treatments you desire or wish to avoid. A Power of Attorney for Healthcare becomes effective when two physicians or a physician or psychologist certify, in writing, that you are not able to make your own decisions or express your choices.