Power of Attorney Living Will is a legally binding form of document
A living will with power of attorney is a legally binding document that provides direction and authority for medical decisions to be made in the event a person (the declarant) becomes incapacitated or unable to make such decisions for themselves. Living wills are not considered effective until the declarant is medically desperate, which means there is no known possibility of recovery.
A living power of attorney will direct a specific person (the power of attorney) to make decisions on behalf of this declarant regarding medical treatment and medical care should the need arise. In addition, living will power of attorney documents can provide instructions for non-medical decisions (financial, estate planning, inheritance) to be made in accordance with the wishes of the declarant who can no longer direct their own affairs.
These documents, like other power of attorney documents, can be far-reaching or general in nature. For example, some people may simply use a living will to state that they do not want pain medication to be administered if a terminal illness overtakes them, while at the same time leaving specific details about the type of medication, length of treatment and other details for the discretion of your doctors. Other filers, however, can be much more explicit, ordering, for example, that their brother Stan be the point of contact for all medical decisions and providing detailed information about the type of care, medication, treatment, and the timeframe in which or she expects to receive this care.
Regardless of how detailed or simple a living will with power of attorney may be, they are important documents for everyone, especially as one advances in age. Power of attorney living wills serve to protect the declarant’s own interests during a time when the declarant will be unable to speak or act for himself, while at the same time taking the guesswork out of trying to figure out what declarants’ wishes or intentions have. it would be otherwise.
We know, for example, those stories of debilitated or comatose people who did not leave a living will with power of attorney, and whose family members struggle with different areas of responsibility and medical decision-making because there is no clear directive about what the loved one must do. they would have wanted for themselves. Without a living will power of attorney, these final days can be nerve-wracking.
For those wishing to complete a living will power of attorney, you will need to find documents specific to your state. Each state is different, although most documents require the same type of general information, including choosing whether or not to receive life-sustaining medical care, the types or amount of pain medication you wish to receive, the choice of a specific doctor to manage end of life. caring for life and the decision to donate organs, to name just a few.
If you want more information, you can find living will documents online, or you should consult your own doctor’s office for information on this important topic.