What is the Difference Between A Medical Power Of Attorney And A Health Care Declaration?
People often confuse the two documents but they really do have different purposes. The Health Care Declaration is your own personal statement of the life prolonging procedures you would or would not want should you have a terminal condition and are unable to express your treatment preferences. The Medical Power of Attorney is a document which appoints another person (agent) to make health care decisions for you any time you are unable to decide for yourself. The Health Care Declaration deals solely with life prolonging procedures and applies only if you have a terminal condition. The Medical Power of Attorney covers any situation where you can’t make treatment decisions for yourself. It is not limited to life prolonging procedures and you need not have a terminal condition. That doesn’t mean you should substitute the Medical Power of Attorney for a Health Care Declaration. In fact, it is probably best to have both documents. What is most important is to be specific about what treatment
