who can be power of attorney health care agent

by Cortez Metz 9 min read

When you make a durable power of attorney for health care, the most important decision you will face is deciding who your health care agent should be. (In your state, this person may also be called a health care proxy, surrogate, or attorney-in-fact.) Most people name their spouse, partner, a relative, or a close friend as their health care agent.

You can choose anyone who is over 18 years of age and who is not your doctor or other health care provider. Your agent could be a family member, a friend, or a spiritual advisor. You should choose someone who you can trust and who will carry out your wishes.

Full Answer

What is the power of attorney for health care?

the same authority as the agent to make health care decisions for you. THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY IS NOT VALID UNLESS: (1) YOU SIGN IT AND HAVE YOUR SIGNATURE ACKNOWLEDGED BEFORE A NOTARY PUBLIC; OR (2) YOU SIGN IT IN THE PRESENCE OF TWO COMPETENT ADULT WITNESSES. THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY NOT ACT AS ONE OF THE …

What is a power of attorney and healthcare proxy?

Part A: Health Care Power of Attorney (Choosing a Health Care Agent) If you do not wish to appoint a Health Care Agent, strike through this entire part and initial here . My name is: My birth date is: / / (Please Print) 1. The person I choose as my health care agent is: …

What is a healthcare power of attorney?

acting under this power of attorney as guardian. SUCCESSOR HEALTH CARE AGENT(S) (optional): If the agent I selected is unable or does not want to make health care decisions for me, then I request the person(s) I name below to be my successor health care agent(s). Only one person at a time can serve as my agent (add another page if you want to add more successor …

What is the health power of attorney?

Feb 16, 2022 · iprocrastinate podcast spotify who can witness a healthcare power of attorney. By February 16, 2022 swoop first officer salary. boryspil international airport » alternatives to being homeless » who can witness a healthcare power of attorney » alternatives to being homeless » who can witness a healthcare power of attorney

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What is a health care power of attorney?

A Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that enables a person (known as the Donor) to appoint another person (known as the Attorney) to make decisions on their behalf in relation to health and welfare matters.Nov 13, 2018

Who makes medical decisions if there is no power of attorney?

The legal right to make care decisions for you 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.Mar 30, 2020

What is difference between power of attorney and health care proxy?

A health care proxy has the authority to make medical decisions and a power of attorney has the authority to make financial decisions. So while a health care proxy may choose a senior living community, the power of attorney must release the funds to pay for it.Jun 10, 2019

Who are health care agents?

A health care agent is a person you choose in advance to make health care decisions for you in the event that you become unable to do so.

What three decisions Cannot be made by a legal power of attorney?

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.

Do spouses automatically have power of attorney?

If two spouses or partners are making a power of attorney, they each need to do their own. ... A spouse often needs legal authority to act for the other – through a power of attorney. You can ask a solicitor to help you with all this, and you can also do it yourself online. It depends on your preference.Mar 26, 2015

Who should be your health care proxy?

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.

What is the difference between a healthcare power of attorney and a medical power of attorney?

What Are Some Other Terms for Medical Power of Attorney? A medical power of attorney is also called a healthcare power of attorney (HCPA). This document is different than other legal documents related to end-of-life- healthcare decisions, such as an advance directive, living will, or a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order.

Can a spouse override a healthcare proxy?

As long as you are mentally competent when you created a medical power of attorney (POA) and followed state laws regarding the content and execution of the document, no one, not even your spouse, has the right to overrule your choices. ...

What are the types of health agencies?

Below we'll explore 10 different types of health clinics, the services they provide, and how to find affordable care.Primary care clinics. ... Specialized clinics. ... Sexual health clinics. ... Mental health clinics. ... Addiction services clinics. ... Community health centers. ... Retail clinics. ... Rural health clinics.More items...•Jul 28, 2020

What is a health broker?

An agent or broker is a person or business who can help you apply for help paying for coverage and enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) through the Marketplace. They can make specific recommendations about which plan you should enroll in. ... Some brokers may only be able to sell plans from specific health insurers.

What is a health agency?

Public health agency is a government body that derives its authority and responsibility from the state and local laws that govern them. A public health agency chiefly aims to improve the health, prevent illness and injury of the population falling under its jurisdiction. It differs widely from community to community.

What is a health care agent?

Your health care agent is the person that you name in your health care directive to work with your doctors to direct your healthcare and make treatment decisions for you in you are unable to do so. This person is usually called your "health care agent," though some states use a term such as "representative," "proxy," or surrogate.".

Can a health care agent be a treating health care provider?

Your health care agent may not be your treating health care provider or an employee of your treating health care provider, unless he or she is related to you by blood, marriage, registered domestic partnership or adoption.

What age can an administrator be?

In any case, your health care agent and attorney-in-fact for health care decisions may not be: under the age of 18.

Can a health care agent be an owner?

Your health care agent may not be an owner, operator or employee of a health care facility at which you are receiving care—unless related to you by blood, marriage or adoption.

What is a health care provider?

your health care provider, or. an owner, operator, employee, agent or a contractor of a residential care facility, health care facility or correctional facility in which you reside, unless related to you by blood, marriage, civil union or adoption.

What is an attorney in fact?

you and your attorney-in-fact are members of the same community of people who have vowed to lead a religious life and who conduct or assist in conducting religious services and actually and regularly engage in religious, charitable or educational activities or the performance of health care services.

Can a surrogate be an employee?

Your health care surrogate may not be an employee, owner, a director or an officer of a health care facility where you are a resident or patient, unless they are:

What is a proxy law in New York?

The Health Care Proxy Law, Article 29-C of the New York Public Health Law, enables competent adults to protect their health care wishes by appointing someone they trust — a health care agent — to decide about treatment on their behalf when they are unable to decide for themselves. Unless stated otherwise, a health care agent can make all decisions that the patient could make while competent. This guidebook, prepared by the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law, provides health care professionals with information about the Proxy Law.

How is a health care agent appointed?

health care agent is appointed by a written document called a health care proxy. The Proxy Law calls the person who creates a proxy the “principal.” Any competent adult can appoint an agent. Adults are presumed competent to create a health care proxy unless they have been found otherwise by a court.

Is a proxy valid in another state?

If a health care proxy or similar legal document from another state or country complies with the laws of that state or country, it is valid under the Proxy Law and must be honored.

What is a proxy law?

The Health Care Proxy Law establishes a decision-making process that allows competent adults to appoint an agent to decide about health care in the event they become unable to decide for themselves. The Proxy Law does not affect any other rights that adults have to make or express decisions about health care, including decisions about life- sustaining treatment.

Can a proxy decide on CPR?

Yes, unless the patient or the proxy form expressly states that the agent cannot decide about CPR, the agent is authorized to do so, and will have the same authority to decide about CPR as a competent patient would have. The rules of the Proxy Law, not New York’s do-not-resuscitate (DNR) law, apply to the decision.

What is the role of an agent in health care?

The agent’s decision-making authority begins when the patient’s attending physician determines that the patient lacks capacity to decide about health care. The capacity to make health care decisions is defined in the Proxy Law as “the ability to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of health care decisions, including the benefits and risks of and alternatives to any proposed health care, and to reach an informed decision.”

What happens if an agent's decision is made in good faith?

If the agent’s decision was made in good faith and in accordance with the standards in the law, the facility should honor the agent’s decision unless the objecting family member obtains a court order.

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Important Factors to Consider

  • Is the person assertive?Keep in mind that your agent may have to fight to assert your wishes in the face of a stubborn medical establishment -- and against the wishes of family members who may be driven by their own beliefs and interests, rather than yours. If you foresee the possibility of a conflict in enforcing your wishes, be sure to choose an agent who is strong-willed and assertiv…
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State Restrictions on Health Care Agents

  • Some states restrict who you can name as your health care agent. These restrictions assume that certain categories of people are inherianetly unqualified or biased, and therefore should not make healthcare decisions on your behalf. Before you name your agent, learn about the Restrictions on Health Care Agentsin your state.
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Naming More Than One Agent

  • Though you are legally permitted to name more than one person to make health care decisions for you, you should name only one agent when you make your power of attorney for health care. This is true even if you know two or more people who are suitable candidates and who agree to …
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Naming An Alternate Agent

  • You are permitted to name one or more alternate agents to represent you if your first choice is unable to take the job for any reason or resigns after your power of attorney for health care takes effect. It's a good idea to name at least one alternate agent, but you should be as thoughtful about naming your alternates as you are about picking your first choice: Be sure to name people who …
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If You Do Not Name A Health Care Agent

  • If you don't know anyone you trust to oversee your medical care, it's not necessary to name an agent. In fact, it's better not to name anyone than to name someone who is not comfortable with the directions you leave -- or who is not likely to assert your wishes strongly. If you don't name an agent, you should still complete a living will (health care declaration), stating any wishes for med…
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For More Information

  • To learn more about health care directives, go to the Living Wills & Medical Powers of Attorneysection on Nolo.com.
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Alabama

  • Your health care proxy may not be: 1. your treating health care provider 2. an employee of your treating health care provider, unless the employee is related to you, or 3. under the age of 19.
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Alaska

  • Your health care agent may not be an owner, operator or employee of the health care institution at which you are receiving care, unless related to you by blood, marriage or adoption.
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California

  • Your health care agent may not be: 1. your treating health care provider or an employee of your treating health care provider, unless the individual is your registered domestic partner or is related to you, or you and the employee both work for your treating health care provider 2. an operator or employee of a community care facility, unless the individual is your registered domestic partner …
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Connecticut

  • If, when you appoint your health care agent and attorney-in-fact for health care decisions, you are a patient or a resident of, or have applied for admission to, a hospital, residential care home, rest home with nursing supervision or chronic and convalescent nursing home, your health care agent and attorney-in-fact for health care decisions may not be: 1. an operator, unless the operator is r…
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Delaware

  • Your health care agent may not be an owner, operator or employee of a long term health care institution where you are receiving care, unless he or she is related to you by blood, marriage or adoption.
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Florida

  • Your health care surrogate may not be a witness to the document naming your health care representative.
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Georgia

  • Your health care agent may not be a physician or health care provider who is directly involved in your health care.
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Hawaii

  • Your health care agent may not be an owner, operator or employee of your treating health care provider, unless the person is related to you by blood, marriage or adoption.
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Idaho

  • Your health care agent may not be: 1. your treating health care provider 2. an employee of your health care provider, unless the employee is related to you 3. an operator of a community care facility, or 4. an employee of an operator of a community care facility, unless the employee is related to you.
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Iowa

  • Your health care agent may not be: 1. your health care provider, or 2. an employee of your health care provider, unless these individuals are related to you by blood, marriage or adoption—limited to parents, children, siblings, grandchildren, grandparents, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and great-grandchildren.
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