If you are currently a healthy person, thinking about finding a health care power of attorney can feel like a morbid thought! However, even if it’s uncomfortable to think about, everyone should have a health care power of attorney set in place just like everyone should have a checkup with the doctor. When thinking about appointing a health care power of attorney, we here at Bennett Guthrie PLLC have a few things you should consider.
First, your health care power of attorney should be someone that is an adult that you can trust. When there is no health care power of attorney, most of the time in an emergency situation, the spouse or adult children will be asked to make health care decisions. If you have no close relations or specific directives, it can put your caretakers or next of kin in a horrible position where they have to hope they’re doing the right thing.
Second, your health care power of attorney should be informed that they are your health care power of attorney, so they know which steps to take in times of emergency. They should be informed, and you should have backups in case that person isn’t able or is unwilling to fulfill their position.
Third, a health care power of attorney is not just for accidents, but for any instance in which the person becomes unable to communicate their wishes, is rendered incompetent, or unconscious. This can range from heart attacks, strokes, dementia, and brain injuries to being struck down with crippling depression and anxiety.
Learn more about the importance of having a health care power of attorney here at Bennett Guthrie PLLC today.