Whats the difference between a LW and a health care power of attorney?
The primary purpose of a LW is to authorize your doctor to “pull the plug” on you if you are terminally ill, unable to communicate, and being kept alive with intravenous food and water. Each state’s LW form states this basic premise differently, but that is nevertheless the core function of the LW. The medical or health care power of attorney, on the other hand, can be for use in a broader set of circumstances. Imagine, for example, that you have been in an automobile accident and you are unconscious, but not terminally ill. Your physician may wish to discuss with you the risks of certain treatment alternatives, but you are not able to respond. By appointing a health care agent or power of attorney, you authorize another person to discuss your condition with you doctor and approve or disapprove certain medical procedures. Many states have chosen for whatever reason to integrate the LW and health care power of attorney into one document. If you are prompted to enter the name of an “agen
