Medical
Power of Attorney Gives Legal
Authority
Terry Arthur
August '08
A General
Power of Attorney allows you to
appoint a person or organization
to handle your affairs while
you’re unavailable or unable to
do so. A Medical Power of
Attorney goes a step further. It
gives someone you trust the
legal authority to act on your
behalf regarding health care
decisions if you ever become
incapacitated, unable to
communicate or otherwise unable
to make such decisions.
This type
of Power of Attorney is
different from a Living Will
because it allows you to appoint
someone to make health care
decisions for you. A Living Will
only allows you to express your
wishes concerning
life-sustaining procedures. Both
Living Wills and Health Care
Powers of Attorney are
considered "Advance Health Care
Directives" because you’re
giving instructions on what you
want to happen in the event you
become unable to make health
care decisions.
Even if
you have executed a Medical
Power of Attorney, you still
have the right to give medical
directions to physicians and
other health care providers as
long as you are able to do so.
This document only becomes
effective when you do not have
the capacity to give, withdraw
or withhold informed consent
regarding your health care.
For more
information, contact Terry
Arthur, KFB General Counsel at
(785) 587-6614.
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