subject: What is medical power of attorney? [print this page] What is medical power of attorney? What is medical power of attorney?
It is a written document or deed which gives a person full rights for acting as an agent or representative for another person who is mentally incapable of making decisions. In other words, the medical power of attorney is given to some agent who is responsible for taking major life decision when you become terminally ill. The rights of the agent are cornered on deciding medical related matters only and not any other property or asset related issues. For taking decisions about all issues you have to give durable power to some agent who is well known and trusted by you.
In most of the countries it has become common to assign some agent for taking decisions concerning your life. This task of taking decisions will come into effect if you fall sick or mentally ill and cannot take any rational decision on your own. It is not mandatory that all of us should appoint an agent for executing our decisions when we are in our last stages of life. However, the court will appoint some agent to act as medical power of attorney, on your behalf when such situation arises. But one cannot guarantee that the appointed man would endeavor to fulfill your wishes at that time. He or she may not necessarily act as per your wish since you are not in a position to communicate your wish at your last stage.
All of us would definitely have certain wishes regarding donating our body after our death and mode of performing funerals and most significantly taking decision when we become terminally ill. You can even mention in the document that you do not want to continue in artificial life saving devices in case you become seriously ill. It is necessary to include the name of one more agent in the power who is known as secondary agent who can act on your behalf if the primary agent is not available during that time.
Thus medical power of attorney is a significant document or authorization given by you to some agent for performing and taking medical actions when the time comes. By creating such document you can be rest assured that all your wishes will be taken care of after your death.
