When you use a medical power of attorney, you need to pick a healthcare agent. The power of attorney authorizes them to make medical decisions on your behalf, should you become incapacitated.
You certainly need to choose someone who is of sound mind, and they also need to be a legal adult. But beyond that, you have a lot of flexibility to choose a family member, a friend or even a professional. What should you look for when selecting your agent?
Someone you trust with your life
First and foremost, this person needs to be absolutely trustworthy. They are going to make critical decisions for you, and these could even include life-or-death decisions. You must inherently trust them to put your best interests first.
Someone who can handle the responsibility
Being granted this power is a large responsibility. They may need to talk to medical professionals. They may have to pass information to family members. The decisions they make could lead to conflicts or disagreements. They have to be able to handle all of this from both an emotional and an intellectual standpoint.
Someone who is available
Finally, making these decisions can take a lot of time and energy. Is the person actually going to be available to put in the time that is necessary? This is why it is often wise to pick someone who lives near you so that they do not have to travel to be with you in an emergency.
Once you have determined who you would like to choose for your medical power of attorney, then it is important to know the legal steps to take to get all of the proper paperwork in place.
