Most people select their spouse, a relative, or a close friend to be their power of attorney. But you can name anyone you want: Remember that selecting a power of attorney is not about choosing the person closest to you, but rather the one who can represent your wishes the best.
Your health care proxy can be a family member, your spouse, or a friend. This person will be able to talk to your doctors, look at your medical records, and make decisions about different tests or procedures if you are unable to do so yourself.
Since your power of attorney potentially will be handling your legal and financial affairs, you'll want to choose someone who either has some experience in these fields or has the personality and financial savvy to handle the decisions that may fall to him or her.
What is the difference between a health care power of attorney and a “living will”? Power of attorney can cover all medical decisions. Living wills only apply to decisions regarding “life-sustaining treatment” in the event of a “terminal illness.”
First, it's helpful to understand the difference between a health care proxy and a power of attorney. A health care proxy grants the authority to make medical decisions, and a power of attorney grants the authority to make financial decisions.
Types of Advance Care DirectivesCommon Law Advance Care Directives which are recognised by the common law (decisions made by judges in the courts) and generally must be followed. ... Statutory Advance Care Directives which are governed by State and Territory legislation.
You cannot give an attorney the power to: act in a way or make a decision that you cannot normally do yourself – for example, anything outside the law. consent to a deprivation of liberty being imposed on you, without a court order.
You can choose anyone you want to be your attorney, as long as they are over 18. For a property and affairs LPA, the person you choose cannot be bankrupt....You should choose someone who:knows you well.you trust to make these decisions for you.is reliable and has the skills to carry out the role.
If you have not given someone authority to make decisions under a power of attorney, then decisions about your health, care and living arrangements will be made by your care professional, the doctor or social worker who is in charge of your treatment or care.
A living will is a directive that declares the patient's wishes should the patient become unable to give instruction. A durable power of attorney identifies a person who will make healthcare decisions in the event the patient is unable to do so.
A healthcare proxy and a living will both have the same purpose: to see that your medical wishes are expressed and honored, even when you can't do so yourself. You give a medical proxy the authority to make those decisions for you, while a living will sets those wishes out in writing.
So what's the difference between an advance directive and a living will? The short answer is that a living will is a type of advance directive, while “advance directive” is a broad term used to describe any legal document that addresses your future medical care.