Healthcare Power of Attorney: A General Overview
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Quick Facts — Healthcare Power of Attorney Lawyers
- Lawyers available: 6 estate planning lawyers
- Clients helped: 11 recent healthcare power of attorney projects
What is a Healthcare Power of Attorney?
A healthcare power of attorney, sometimes abbreviated to HCPA, is a legal document that appoints a person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf in the event that you can no longer make those decisions. Healthcare power of attorney refers to both the document, and the person selected to make decisions.
This is a type of advance health directive and can sometimes be referred to as a healthcare proxy.
Choosing your healthcare power of attorney is a very important decision and should not be taken lightly. If you are ever mentally or physically incapacitated and cannot communicate your wishes, this person has the power to make all your healthcare decisions. This person could be making life-and-death decisions on your behalf so your health care power of attorney should be familiar with you, your wishes, and your religious beliefs.
A person who is named a medical power of attorney or healthcare proxy, can make many important medical decisions for you including:
- Speaking with your doctors
- Preventing or approving treatment or surgeries
- Whether to use artificial hydration and nutrition
- Decisions about organ donation
- Choice of healthcare facility
- Release of medical records
You can appoint anyone as your HCPA or attorney-in-fact, like a family member or friend and you can revoke the healthcare power of attorney at any time.
Read this article to learn more about what it means to designate someone as your healthcare power of attorney.
Reason to Use a Healthcare Power of Attorney
Using a healthcare power of attorney is a very personal decision and people choose to have or not have a HCPA for many different reasons.
For some, knowing that a loved one will make good decisions on their behalf in the event of a medical emergency gives them peace of mind. If someone is terminally ill, they may be able to rest easier knowing that they will be taken care of. This can be very comforting for those who suffering from life a threatening illness and are facing an uncertain future.
Others may choose to not designate a HCPA since they are uncomfortable letting someone else make these important and personal decisions. If a person needs a healthcare representative, and a power of attorney hasn’t been selected, the court can appoint a representative. Knowing that a non-bias third party will be making decisions may be a better option for some people.
Difference Between a Healthcare Power of Attorney and General Power of Attorney
Both a healthcare power of attorney and a general power of attorney grant a designated person the authority to make decisions for you, however, they serve different purposes.
A healthcare power of attorney delegates medical decision-making powers to representative in the event you become incapacitated and cannot make the decisions yourself. For example, if you are in a coma, your medical power of attorney can speak to doctors and approve treatments on your behalf. A medical power of attorney only grants that representative authority over relevant medical decisions.
A general power of attorney on the other hand, grants your representative a large array of decision-making powers. In addition to medical decisions, under a general power of attorney, your attorney-in-fact can also make decisions about property, like buying or selling real estate or financial decisions like bill paying or bank accounts.
Browse some of our Power of Attorney lawyers .
Types of Power of Attorneys
A medical power of attorney is just one type of power of attorney that can be used. While all power of attorneys designate someone to act on your behalf, they all serve different purposes.
- Durable Power of Attorney: A durable power of attorney allows someone to make all important decisions on your behalf including medical and financial decisions in the event you become incapacitated. This document takes effect immediately after signing and ends at the time of your death. A durable power of attorney can only be rescinded using a revocation of power of attorney form and you must be considered competent to make this decision.
- Non-Durable Power of Attorney: A non-durable power of attorney is much like a durable power of attorney except that this document expires not just at death, but also if you become incapacitated. At that point, a guardian would have to be court-appointed on your behalf.
- General Power of Attorney: This type of power of attorney grants your attorney-in-fact a broad range of powers including the ability to make decisions about bank accounts, real estate, contracts and paying bills. These POAs are usually used for short term periods and end in the event you become incapacitated.
- Limited Power of Attorney: Sometimes called a special power of attorney, this document grants a person authority to act on your behalf for a very specific purpose like cashing a check or signing a real estate document. Once the specific task is completed, this POA expires.
- Springing Power of Attorney: A Springing POA sometimes called a conditional POA will only go into effect of a certain event takes place. This could be a medical condition or sometimes this POA is used when a military member is deployed. This POA can expire at a specified time, at incapacitation, or at death.
Do You Need A Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will?
A healthcare power of attorney and living will serve different purposes, so some people do choose to have both legal documents.
A living will only apply if you have a terminal illness or are permanently unconscious. If you are in an accident and are temporarily unconscious, unable to communicate, in a vegetative state, a living will cannot apply to your situation and you would need a HCPA. This is why some people choose to have both options.
When combined, a living will, and a medical power of attorney can work together to make sure you are taken care of if the need arises. Some people have a medical power of attorney and living will in one document, while others use the living will to guide their attorney-in-fact.
A living will can include information like:
- Whether or not to be resuscitated (DNR)
- Whether or not to utilize life support
- If a person would like to die naturally
If you have both a healthcare power of attorney and a living will, your POA can use the living will to make the best decisions for you.
Although you do not need to have both a living will and a medical power of attorney, having both documents in place and a responsible POA chosen is the only way to be certain that your healthcare decisions will be carried out the way you would like.
Check out this article for more information on how living wills and HCPAs work together.
Image via Pexels by Pixabay
How to Get a Healthcare Power of Attorney?
Appointing a healthcare power of attorney is generally a very simple process, however each state has their own rules and regulations. You may want to consult a family law lawyer to ensure that your power of attorney abides by all your state’s laws.
To appoint someone as your medical power of attorney you will need to fill out a form that names the person you choose. The form will include information like your name , date of birth , and date of the agreement .
You can also add stipulations about their authority over medical decisions. Most forms will have a place where you can list special requests like a DNR or denial of live extending interventions.
Depending on your state, you may require a witness to be present at signing and the form usually needs notarization as well.
Get Help with a Healthcare Power of Attorney
Do you have questions about a healthcare power of attorney and want to speak to an expert? Post a project today on ContractsCounsel and receive bids from family lawyers who specialize in Healthcare Power of Attorneys.
ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.
Meet some of our Healthcare Power of Attorney Lawyers
Anand A.
Anand is an entrepreneur and attorney with a wide-ranging background. In his legal capacity, Anand has represented parties in (i) commercial finance, (ii) corporate, and (iii) real estate matters throughout the country, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Arizona, and Georgia. He is well-versed in business formation and management, reviewing and negotiating contracts, advising clients on financing strategy, and various other arenas in which individuals and businesses commonly find themselves. As an entrepreneur, Anand is involved in the hospitality industry and commercial real estate. His approach to the legal practice is to treat clients fairly and provide the highest quality representation possible. Anand received his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law in 2013 and his Bachelor of Business Administration from Pace University, Lubin School of Business in 2007.
"Anand was a pleasure to work with! He was very thorough and professional."
Jane C.
Skilled in the details of complex corporate transactions, I have 15 years experience working with entrepreneurs and businesses to plan and grow for the future. Clients trust me because of the practical guided advice I provide. No deal is too small or complex for me to handle.
"Jane was thorough and patient through a long list of contract revisions (NDAs, Advisor and Consulting Agreements) tailored to CT and DE. She answered detailed follow-up questions clearly and directly, including on enforceability and non-compete scope. Would recommend for startup post-incorporation and contract work."
Jeremiah C.
Jeremiah C.
Creative, results driven business & technology executive with 27 years of experience (17+ as a business/corporate lawyer). A problem solver with a passion for business, technology, and law. I bring a thorough understanding of the intersection of the law and business needs to any endeavor, having founded multiple startups myself with successful exits. I provide professional business and legal consulting. Throughout my career I've represented a number large corporations (including some of the top Fortune 500 companies) but the vast majority of my clients these days are startups and small businesses. Having represented hundreds of successful crowdfunded startups, I'm one of the most well known attorneys for startups seeking CF funds. I hold a Juris Doctor degree with a focus on Business/Corporate Law, a Master of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurship, A Master of Education degree and dual Bachelor of Science degrees. I look forward to working with any parties that have a need for my skill sets.
"Jeremiah was pleasant to speak to and provided high quality work. I appreciate that he took the time to call me personally instead of a paralegal. Work delivered early and high quality! Highly recommend"
Brianna N.
Brianna is a well-respected New York licensed attorney with a Juris Doctorate degree in law from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law School and bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Dowling College. Since becoming an attorney, she has practiced in various areas including business law, corporate law, residential real estate, commercial real estate, criminal law, traffic law, employment law, landlord tenant law, estate planning, and has represented intermediaries in procurement and the personal protective equipment industry. Brianna has broad and extensive business experience; She is an entrepreneur and co-owner of a microtechnology manufacturing company that was built by her and her partner, where she also served as the Chief Legal Officer and Human Resource Manager for the company. While building the manufacturing business, she created a brokerage firm for business transactions and has managed several other businesses which she has ownership interest in. Brianna’s involvement in these various businesses over the past 15 years provides a unique skillset to her clients; Not only does she understand contractual principals and obligations from a legal perspective while drafting and negotiating agreements, but she also has the foresight, experience, and ability to ensure the agreement reflects the practical aspects of the business. Based on the client’s needs and desired outcome, she has the forethought to cover different angles that would be overlooked from a legal standpoint, and as a result she is able to help prevent unforeseen business ramifications. She conducts extensive risk assessments on behalf of her clients and minimizes exposure to potential liability without “over lawyering” agreements. One of Brianna’s main areas of focus is drafting and negotiating agreements. Negotiation is a passion of hers which was applied in law school while she was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, notably winning Touro Law School’s intraschool negotiation competition. In her more recent years, Brianna has removed herself from her various business interests to focus on her law practice. Brianna has a strong moral compass and believes in quality over quantity. She treats every client as a top priority; thus, she will not take on many cases at a time because she wants to give each client the focus and attention they deserve. She has sharp attention to detail and is a forceful advocate for every client. Brianna has broad and extensive business experience; She is an entrepreneur and co-owner of a microtechnology manufacturing company that was built by her and her partner, where she also served as the Chief Legal Officer and Human Resource Manager for the company. While building the manufacturing business, she created a brokerage firm for business transactions and has managed several other businesses which she has ownership interest in. Brianna’s involvement in these various businesses over the past 15 years provides a unique skillset to her clients; Not only does she understand contractual principals and obligations from a legal perspective while drafting and negotiating agreements, but she also has the foresight, experience, and ability to ensure the agreement reflects the practical aspects of the business. Based on the client’s needs and desired outcome, she has the forethought to cover different angles that would be overlooked from a legal standpoint, and as a result she is able to help prevent unforeseen business ramifications. She conducts extensive risk assessments on behalf of her clients and minimizes exposure to potential liability without “over lawyering” agreements. Additionally, she specializes in drafting and negotiating agreements. Negotiation is a passion of hers which was applied in law school while she was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, notably winning Touro Law School’s intraschool negotiation competition. In her more recent years, Brianna has removed herself from her various business interests to focus on her law practice. Brianna has a strong moral compass and believes in quality over quantity. She treats every client as a top priority; thus, she will not take on many cases at a time because she wants to give each client the focus and attention they deserve. She has sharp attention to detail and is a forceful advocate for every client.
"Brianna gave me a very reasonable quote compared to other bids, and she's super responsible and thorough with her job, an absolute delight to work with, highly recommended!"
Paul S.
I focus my practice on startups and small to mid-size businesses, because they have unique needs that mid-size and large law firms aren't well-equipped to service. In addition to practicing law, I have started and run other businesses, and have an MBA in marketing from Indiana University. I combine my business experience with my legal expertise, to provide practical advice to my clients. I am licensed in Ohio and California, and I leverage the latest in technology to provide top quality legal services to a nationwide client-base. This enables me to serve my clients in a cost-effective manner that doesn't skimp on personal service.
"Was my great pleasure working with Paul. He is very knowledgeable about startups/companies, professional, wise, and supportive. I would highly recommend him."
January 16, 2021
Jessica K.
I assist individuals and businesses across the state of Florida with litigation, contract drafting, contract interpretation, and issues that may arise because of contract terms, including demands (cease-and-desist letters) and litigation. I have experience with non-compete agreements, privacy policies, website terms, settlement agreements, intellectual property disputes, and many other disputes. Please reach out if I can help you with a litigation- or contract-related project!
August 4, 2020
Christopher J.
Experienced attorney focusing on estate planning, probate administration, business formation and counseling, and consumer bankruptcy.
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