subject: The Power Behind A Power Of Attorney [print this page] Why would you ever need a power of attorney? Some people believe they don't need to worry about getting a formal, legal document, or a power of attorney, to grant a person the right to make legal and medical decisions for them. This is because some people believe they are invincible and can't see themselves ever being in a position where they do not have the mental capacity to make health care decisions for themselves. But the truth is, nobody is invincible, and a power of attorney just might save yourself, and your loved ones, a lot of pain and heart ache.
A power of attorney can come in handy in a variety of circumstances and situations, but one of the most common occurrences that calls for the use of a power of attorney has to do with health care decisions and a person's mental capacity. Although health care problems are frequently associated with older people, you don't have to be ninety to have something like a stroke or another illness strike. Sometimes health care problems, such as illnesses or strokes, can hinder a person't mental capacity and leave them unable to make decisions for themselves, and this includes health care decisions, as well as other legal decisions, such as real estate and financial affairs. This is where a power of attorney comes in.
A power of attorney is a legal document that is prepared by you before you are ill, and instructs any future health care givers as to what kind of health care you wish to receive, should you, at some point, no longer be in the mental capacity to make health care decisions for yourself anymore. For example, say you are opposed to a certain health care practice that is commonly used in health care. If you are in a good mental capacity, and you are alive and healthy and coherent, you could just tell your health care providers that you do not wish to participate in that particular health care practice. But if you are in a mental capacity that makes you unable to participate in health care decisions, then your power of attorney would clearly explain what health care practices you are opposed to, and therefore you would not have to participate in these health care practices, no matter the state of your mental capacity.
Also, let's say you have a particular fondness for another health care practice, then your power of attorney would let your health care providers know that you like this health care practice, for example, general anesthesia versus a local pain killer. Having a power of attorney ensures that you still play an active part in all of your health care decisions, even if your mental capacity is not very stable.
A power of attorney is an important legal document that everybody should consider getting. And a power of attorney salt lake city law office would have all the attorney forms needed to get your own legal, formal document, or your power of attorney.
