Durable Power Of Attorney For Health Care (Page 3 of 15) in pdf

10. When can the patient advocate act in my behalf?

The patient advocate can make decisions for you only when you are unable to participate in med

treatment decisions.

11. Why might I be unable to participate in medical treatment decisions?

You may become temporarily or permanently unconscious from disease, accident, or surgery. You may

be awake but mentally unable to make decisions about your care due to disease or injury. In

addition, you might have a temporary loss of ability to make or communicate decisions if, for example,

you had a stroke. Others might suffer long-term or permanent loss through a degenerative condition

such as Alzheimer’s disease.

12. Who determines that I am no longer able to participate in these decisions?

Your attending physician and one other physician or licensed psychologist will make that

determination. If your religious beliefs prohibit an examination to make this determination, and this is

stated in the designation document, you must indicate in the document how it would be determine

when the patient advocate exercises powers concerning decisions on your behalf.

13. What powers can I give a patient advocate?

You can give a patient advocate the power to make those personal care decisions you normally make

for yourself. For example, you can give your patient advocate power to consent to or refuse medical

treatment for you, to arrange for home health care or adult day care, arrange care in a nursing home,

or move you to a home for the aged. A patient advocate may also be empowered to make an

anatomical gift of all or part of the patient’s body. According to state law, if you were to become

incompetent while pregnant, your patient advocate could not authorize a medical treatment decision to

withhold or withdraw treatment from a patient who is pregnant that would result in the pregnant

patient’s death.

14. Can I give my patient advocate the authority to make decisions to withhold or withdraw

life-sustaining treatment, including food and water administered through tubes?

Yes, but you must express in a clear and convincing manner that the patient advocate is authorized to

make such decisions, and you must acknowledge that these decisions could or would allow your

death. If you have specific desires as to when you want to forego life-sustaining treatment, you

should describe in the document the specific circumstances in which he or she can act. You may also

include them as written instructions in your durable power document.

15. Do I have the right to express in the document my wishes concerning medical treatment

and personal care?

Yes. You might, for example, express your wishes concerning the type of care you want during

terminal illness. You might also express a desire not to be placed in a nursing home and a desire to

die at home. Your patient advocate has a duty to try to follow your wishes.

16. Is it important to express my wishes in the durable power of attorney for?

health care designating document?

Yes. Your wishes might not be followed if others are unaware of them. It can also be a great burden

for your patient advocate to make a decision for you without your specific guidance.

Durable Power Of Attorney For Health Care Page 3