Medical Power of Attorney Lawyer Lancaster
Making decisions about your healthcare in advance can provide peace of mind and protect your interests during unforeseen circumstances. At Brandywine Estate & Probate Lawyer, we assist clients in Lancaster with establishing medical powers of attorney to ensure their healthcare choices are honored. Our experienced medical power of attorney lawyer will help you appoint a trusted individual to make decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so. Call 717-219-3839 today for a free consultation and take the first step toward safeguarding your future.
How to Make Sure Your Medical Power of Attorney Reflects Your Wishes
Creating a medical power of attorney (MPOA) is an essential part of estate planning. It allows you to designate someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated and are unable to communicate your wishes. Having a well-drafted MPOA ensures that your preferences regarding medical treatment are respected, even if you’re not in a position to express them.
However, it’s important to know what should be included in the document to make sure it fully reflects your intentions and protects your rights.
Understanding Medical Power of Attorney
A medical power of attorney is a legal document that grants another person, often referred to as your agent or healthcare proxy, the authority to make medical decisions for you. The need for such a document can arise in cases where you are temporarily or permanently incapacitated due to illness, injury, or other health conditions. This person will have the responsibility to make choices about your care based on the instructions you have provided and in accordance with your values.
While creating an MPOA is critical, it is equally important to include clear, specific instructions in the document to ensure that your healthcare agent can carry out your wishes. Here are key elements to include in your medical power of attorney to make sure it reflects your intentions.
Name a Trusted Healthcare Agent
The first step in creating a valid MPOA is selecting a trusted individual to act as your healthcare agent. This person will have significant responsibilities, so it’s essential that you choose someone who is trustworthy, able to make tough decisions, and understands your healthcare preferences.
Your healthcare agent does not have to be a family member, but it is often a good idea to choose someone who is familiar with your medical history and values. Be sure to also name a backup agent in case your primary agent is unavailable or unable to make decisions on your behalf.
Tip: Make sure to have an open discussion with the individual you choose. Talk about your healthcare preferences and the level of involvement you expect from them. This will help ensure that your wishes are respected if the need arises.
Specify the Types of Medical Decisions You Want Your Agent to Make
It’s important to be clear about what medical decisions your agent will be authorized to make. A broad generalization in your MPOA could lead to confusion when urgent decisions need to be made. You should outline whether your agent is authorized to make decisions regarding:
- Routine medical care: Treatment for illnesses, surgeries, or other health-related procedures.
- End-of-life care: Whether or not you would want life-sustaining treatments, such as ventilators, CPR, or feeding tubes, in the event of terminal illness or irreversible condition.
- Palliative care: Pain management and hospice care options when a person is near the end of life.
- Mental health care: If applicable, should your agent be involved in decisions related to psychiatric care or involuntary commitment?
- Organ donation: If you wish to donate your organs upon death, this should be addressed in your MPOA.
By specifying these areas, you help guide your agent’s decisions and ensure they align with your values and beliefs.
Provide Guidance on End-of-Life Decisions
End-of-life decisions can be particularly difficult for family members to navigate. It’s essential to be specific about your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment and end-of-life care. Consider addressing the following:
- Do you want life support if there’s no hope for recovery?
- Would you prefer to pass away naturally rather than be kept alive artificially?
- What type of comfort measures do you want during your final days?
These decisions can be challenging, but by specifying your preferences, you give your agent clear guidance, allowing them to make the decisions that best align with your wishes.
Tip: You may also want to include a statement about your religious or cultural preferences if they are relevant to your healthcare choices.
Discuss the Use of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration
Artificial nutrition and hydration involve using feeding tubes or intravenous lines to provide sustenance when a person is unable to eat or drink on their own. Some people may not wish to undergo such treatments if they are terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state.
Make sure to include specific instructions on whether you would want artificial nutrition or hydration. If you don’t include these instructions, your healthcare agent may be forced to make a decision in the absence of your preferences, which can lead to confusion and disagreement.
Include a Statement on Organ Donation
If organ donation is important to you, make sure to specify it in your medical power of attorney. Your agent will be the person responsible for making the decision about organ donation on your behalf if you are unable to express your wishes.
Some people choose to donate specific organs, such as their kidneys or heart, while others may opt to donate all available organs. Be clear about your preferences, as your agent will need to follow them.
Address the Issue of Pain Management
While medical technology has advanced to the point where many conditions can be treated, it is important to discuss how you want pain to be managed, especially if you are diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness. Some individuals may wish to avoid certain medications due to concerns about addiction, while others may prioritize pain relief above all else.
Incorporating detailed instructions on pain management ensures that your healthcare agent can make decisions consistent with your desires. Include information about specific medications or treatments that align with your preferences.
Make Your Agent Aware of Your Values and Beliefs
Your healthcare agent will be making decisions on your behalf based on the guidelines you set, so it is important to ensure that they understand your core values, beliefs, and philosophy on life. Consider adding a section in your MPOA that gives insight into what is most important to you regarding your care.
For example, if you value comfort and dignity over aggressive life-sustaining treatments, make that clear in the document. This will help guide your agent in making choices that match your principles.
Reevaluate and Update Your Medical Power of Attorney Regularly
Your healthcare preferences may change over time, so it’s important to revisit your medical power of attorney periodically. Review it every few years or whenever there’s a significant change in your health, family dynamics, or lifestyle.
Updating your MPOA ensures that it accurately reflects your current wishes. After making any changes, be sure to provide your agent and relevant healthcare providers with updated copies.
Creating a medical power of attorney is an important step in ensuring that your healthcare wishes are respected if you are ever unable to make decisions for yourself. By including clear, specific instructions and discussing your preferences with your healthcare agent, you can give yourself peace of mind, knowing that your wishes will be carried out.
Protect Your Healthcare Decisions with a Medical Power of Attorney
Taking control of your healthcare decisions now can provide peace of mind for you and your family in the future. At Brandywine Estate & Probate Lawyer, we help clients in Lancaster establish medical powers of attorney to ensure their wishes are respected during critical times. Our team is here to guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have. Call 717-219-3839 today for a free consultation and let us help you safeguard your future health and well-being.