Health Care Proxy/Appointment of Care Representative

[Italnstallion99]

I had a will drafted a few years ago along with financial power of attorney and an appointment of healthcare representative form as well.

I would like to know if the appointment of healthcare representative form will also act as the healthcare proxy? The form does not give any specific wishes in the event I am unable to do so. Does this mean this form is only appointing someone to be the representative and I would also need healthcare proxy with specific instructions?

The only language it says is: My healthcare representative may consider as appropriate and necessary as evidence of my wishes

1. My verbal and non verbal expressions
2. Reliable oral or written statements made by me

I am thinking I need the healthcare proxy as well since this usually needs to be provided to your doctors office? Plus before any decisions are made the doctor or hospital would need this form?

Thanks in advance

 

[LdiJ]

I had a will drafted a few years ago along with financial power of attorney and an appointment of healthcare representative form as well.

I would like to know if the appointment of healthcare representative form will also act as the healthcare proxy? The form does not give any specific wishes in the event I am unable to do so. Does this mean this form is only appointing someone to be the representative and I would also need healthcare proxy with specific instructions?

The only language it says is: My healthcare representative may consider as appropriate and necessary as evidence of my wishes

1. My verbal and non verbal expressions
2. Reliable oral or written statements made by me

I am thinking I need the healthcare proxy as well since this usually needs to be provided to your doctors office? Plus before any decisions are made the doctor or hospital would need this form?

Thanks in advance

A healthcare representative and a healthcare proxy (or even a healthcare POA) are just different ways to state the same thing. When you appoint a healthcare representative or proxy you are specifically stating WHO you want to make decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. Otherwise, the hospital or doctor would simply accept the decisions of your next of kin.

Now, you can certainly also have a living will which would state certain specific things about what you do or don't want done if you want to do so, but that is not required.

 

[zddoodah]

No one who hasn't read the document can answer your questions intelligently.

 

[TrustUser]

not sure which state you are in ? in california we have what is called a health care directive, where you state all your wishes, as well as naming your health care attorney, and as many backups as you want. the health care attorney is the same as your proxy, from what i can tell