Can a family member who has power of attorney have the right to alter my medications?
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
If the power of attorney covers medical decisions and you are not able to speak for yourself, the answer is yes. Choose wisely.
There are different kinds of power of attorney, durable power of attorney, medical power attorney which can include living wills and advance directives. Each has their own rules and what the person who holds them can and cannot do and when they can and cannot do it.
In my state, power of attorney has different levels that can be implemented only when a person is incapacitated (either temporarily or permanent).
In most sets ups, at it's most basic a regular POA can only be used to pay the person's bills and make basic decisions that you have said they can make.
You have to designate the stipulations for each type of POA.
Our lawyer was very clear that the way ours are set up, no one can make a decision for us....they can only implement the decisions we selected them to make.
The decisions are predicated by things like...I am not conscious but not near death all the way to death is imminent what do I want done. We spent hours going over all of these scenarios.
I don't know if your state is like that.
Please talk to the lawyer that drew them up and make sure you have paperwork that meets your needs in each category.
Be very careful who you select for these roles and let the person know in an honest and open conversation...preferably in front of your lawyer (since they do need to sign the paperwork anyhow, best to have the lawyer witness the signatures).
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!