Medical decision makers

We can make difficult conversations easy to deal with if we know the decisions of our love ones!  End of life wishes should be discussed frequently, written down, and updated as people desires regarding life prolonging measures and death and dying often changes.

If you do not wish to have this done via an attorney, forms may be accessed online or in the forms section at Office Max, Office Depot, Staples etc. Also, if you come from a state where common law marriage is recognized, understand that Florida does not recognize common law marriage. DO THE PAPERWORK!!! 

Healthcare Surrogate: 

Your health care surrogate is a person you authorize via a Designation of Health Care Surrogate form to make medical decisions for you when you are unable to make your own decisions. 

Living Will: 

A written statement detailing a person's desires regarding their medical treatment in circumstances in which they are no longer able to express informed consent, especially an advance directive.

Power of Attorney: 

The authority to act for another person in specified or all legal or financial matters. A legal document giving power of attorney to someone. (May or may not include healthcare decisions. Must state that explicitly) 

A Durable Power of Attorney: 

Refers to a power of attorney which typically remains in effect until the death of the principal or until the document is revoked. A Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) is a legal document that lets individuals appoint a person they trust to take control of their finances in the event they are unable to manage their assets themselves.

A General Power of Attorney: 

Acts on behalf of the principal in any and all matters, as allowed by the state (not healthcare decisions unless specifically stated). The agent under a general POA agreement may be authorized to take care of issues such as handling bank accounts, signing checks, selling property and assets like stocks, filing taxes, etc.

A Medical Power of Attorney (or Healthcare Power of Attorney):

A legal document that lets you give someone legal authority to make important decisions about your medical care....The person you name in your POA to make these decisions is called your healthcare agent or proxy.

 - Dr. Olivett Underwood-Mobley, LCSW