What is an enduring power of attorney (medical treatment)?
An enduring power of attorney (medical treatment) is a legal document that authorises another person to make decisions about your medical care and treatment on your behalf. The person making the enduring power of attorney (medical treatment) is called the appointor, and the person who accepts the appointment is the agent. The enduring power of attorney (medical treatment) takes effect if and when you become incapacitated. The incapacity can be temporary, for example, due to a loss of consciousness after a car accident, or permanent, for example, due to dementia. However, it does not take effect if your decision-making capacity has been reduced only briefly or mildly.
Related Questions
- What happens if an agent appointed under an Enduring Power of Attorney (medical treatment) agent is not able to or no longer wants to carry out that role?
- Can an agent appointed under an Enduring Power of Attorney (medical treatment) make decisions about organ donation or an autopsy?
- Can someone appointed as an attorney under an Enduring Power of Attorney (financial) also make decisions about medical treatment?
