I am my father's POA, he has been drinking to 300+ blood alcohol levels and as he begins to sober he starts again. Can I commit him?
By JM from Des Moines, IA
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That sounds a little harsh to just commit him. Could you not try to get him to an AA meeting or talk about rehabilitation first? If you love your father I am sure you wouldn't want him going into an institution where it might be too traumatic for him to cope with. He may deteriorate very quickly if you just abandon him like that.
Think about different options first. Seek advise from AA. There is a specific community set up to help loved ones of alcoholics.
Emotions and familial duty aside, your father is continuing to drink and is a hazard to himself and all other people if he drives, uses kitchen and other appliances, etc., while intoxicated. I suggest you immediately discuss the possible legal ramifications of commiting or not commiting him as you are the POA.
No you cannot. Power Of Attorney, either for financial or health care, means that you can make decisions in the event your father cannot. It is not up to you to decide that he cannot. Only a court can do that as you are not yet his guardian. Call the probate court where your father lives and inquire about obtaining guardianship. His physician will have to fill out a bucket of paperwork, a court social worker usually must meet your father, and then a judge or magistrate will hold a hearing.
In most states, your father must be notified and has the right to attend and speak for himself. The judge will try to determine if he is a danger to himself or others, but even that 'danger to self' thing is tricky as the law gives folks the right to live as we choose. Usually this probate court process is not very expensive and any doc who has older patients has seen this kind of thing before. Good luck to you! (PS I am an eldercare social worker in Ohio.)
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