Power of Attorney for Developmentally Disabled Adult Child

[sheilasrite1]

What is the name of your state? I live in California in Orange County. I have a 24 yr. old daughter that is developmentally disabled. She has Spina Bifida. She is scheduled for a major surgery tomorrow but I need to get a Power of Attorney. She agreed since I have made all the decisions regarding medical, finances and whatever else she needs. But since she is over 18 now I still run into a few problems with some people wanting her to sign forms. Since she doesn't know about the law and what she is signing, I still have to take care of this. I have been with her when they had her sign certain papers but she still doesn't comprehend and one time before I got to the hospital, the anesthesiologist was having her sign a form that would NOT put her to sleep for this surgery. Luckily I got there in time. Just because she has no feeling from about the waist down, they assumed where they would cut her, she wouldn't be able to feel it. Wrong!! So I need to know what kind of Power of Attorney to use for all of her needs. We know we have to get it notarized but I need to know what kind of P of A.
Thanks for any help.
Sincerely, Sheila in California

 

[BlondiePB]

What is the name of your state? I live in California in Orange County. I have a 24 yr. old daughter that is developmentally disabled. She has Spina Bifida. She is scheduled for a major surgery tomorrow but I need to get a Power of Attorney. She agreed since I have made all the decisions regarding medical, finances and whatever else she needs. But since she is over 18 now I still run into a few problems with some people wanting her to sign forms. Since she doesn't know about the law and what she is signing, I still have to take care of this. I have been with her when they had her sign certain papers but she still doesn't comprehend and one time before I got to the hospital, the anesthesiologist was having her sign a form that would NOT put her to sleep for this surgery. Luckily I got there in time. Just because she has no feeling from about the waist down, they assumed where they would cut her, she wouldn't be able to feel it. Wrong!! So I need to know what kind of Power of Attorney to use for all of her needs. We know we have to get it notarized but I need to know what kind of P of A.
Thanks for any help.
Sincerely, Sheila in California

See the hospital administrator. He/she can assist you with the papers needed to bring to the court for an emergency Health Care Surrogate/Proxy. You also need to petition the court for Conservator over your daughter. This can also be an emergency petition.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Sheila,
What is the extent of your daughter's DD beyond Spinal Bifida? Unless she is conserved or signs a consent form at the hospital, she can sign for herself since she is an adult. Not knowing the specific type of surgery or the reasons why the doctors felt it better to not use general anaesthesia, I can't comment on the advisability of of anaesthesia. The effects of anaesthesia can be profound.

 

[seniorjudge]

What is the name of your state? I live in California in Orange County. I have a 24 yr. old daughter that is developmentally disabled. She has Spina Bifida. She is scheduled for a major surgery tomorrow but I need to get a Power of Attorney. She agreed since I have made all the decisions regarding medical, finances and whatever else she needs. But since she is over 18 now I still run into a few problems with some people wanting her to sign forms. Since she doesn't know about the law and what she is signing, I still have to take care of this. I have been with her when they had her sign certain papers but she still doesn't comprehend and one time before I got to the hospital, the anesthesiologist was having her sign a form that would NOT put her to sleep for this surgery. Luckily I got there in time. Just because she has no feeling from about the waist down, they assumed where they would cut her, she wouldn't be able to feel it. Wrong!! So I need to know what kind of Power of Attorney to use for all of her needs. We know we have to get it notarized but I need to know what kind of P of A.
Thanks for any help.
Sincerely, Sheila in California

Dittos on the two other posters.

Let me also add that there are some doctors and/or hospitals who will NOT accept a POA for some procedures and will thus require a court order.

Therefore, you need a conservatorship/guardianship and you need to set that up as soon as possible.

 

[kcjmcph]

No advice-but my prayers are with you