More Why You Need A Healthcare Power Of Attorney
A Healthcare Power of Attorney permits you to select an agent to make
critical decisions regarding your healthcare if you are incapacitated and
cannot act for yourself. If you are in critical condition due to an accident or
disease, your agent can communicate your desires to medical personnel to assure
your care reflects your intentions under the circumstances.
Generally, a Healthcare Power of Attorney describes certain life-prolonging
treatments. You select which treatment you do or do not want applied in the
event you are suffering a terminal illness or are in a permanent vegetative
state.
This document is more extensive and replaces what historically has been called
a Living Will. A Living Will is only operative if your ultimate recovery is
hopeless. A Healthcare Power of Attorney is operative in that case but also is
operative when your health is not so dire.