Right now, you probably can’t imagine being unable to make your own decisions about your medical care. However, you never know when something could happen, so it’s important to have a plan in mind. This plan is called a healthcare power of attorney, and it isn’t something that you should wait to formalize. These are a few key things you should know about assigning your healthcare power of attorney.
What is a healthcare power of attorney?
A healthcare power of attorney document is a legally recognized form that assigns the responsibility of making medical decisions about your care to a person of your choosing in the event that you are unable to make your own decisions. For example, the document might take effect if you have a brain injury, are suffering from dementia or are unconscious at the moment of treatment.
Why do I need a healthcare power of attorney?
If you are young or still in good health, you might not see the urgency or possibly even the need for creating this directive. The sad fact is too many people end up putting off this important legal step for too long. Even if you are young and healthy, you never know when something could happen. A sudden accident or illness could render you incapable of making a decision at any moment. While you certainly want to hope that one of these emergencies never occur, it’s always possible. By going ahead and legally assigning your healthcare power of attorney now, you don’t have to worry about being without one when you need it most.
When you write up your power of attorney document, you can stipulate everything the way you want it. You give yourself time to talk to the person you have chosen about your desires for when you are incapable of making your own decisions. For example, you might not want to be resuscitated in certain situations. By planning ahead now, you can help ensure that your wishes are respected at a critical moment. Plus, you can help ensure that your family members don’t end up in an emotion-fueled argument over such matters later on.
Can’t I just buy a pre-printed form?
You may have seen templates online that you can use to designate your healthcare power of attorney. Using one of these blanket forms is not your best decision. Instead, you should consider talking to a lawyer who can help you create a binding document that is properly written and will hold up in court in case of a legal challenge.
As you can see, putting together a power of attorney document that is related to your healthcare is important. Although you might think that you can put off putting together one of these documents, there is no better time than now to do so.
If you haven’t legally designated your healthcare power of attorney, contact Meek Law Firm today to discuss your needs. Attorney Jonathan Meek has assisted many people with this important legal matter and he can help you as well. Call (704) 848-6335 or use the contact form on the right of this page to schedule a consultation appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.