Attorney Health Care

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to act on your behalf, usually in financial or medical situations.An agent can never transfer their authority to another person unless the POA explicitly permits it.

In California and in many other states, there are POA forms specific to healthcare, and medical decisions are excluded from the general durable POAs. This means you can designate one person to be your agent for health decisions, and another for financial or legal decisions.

A principal can revoke the power of attorney while he or she is still mentally competent. A principal can complete a formal written document requesting the revocation of a power of attorney at any time, for any reason, while he or she is still competent. The principal must sign and notarize the revocation request.

The principal can always override a power of attorney, although it's possible for others to stop an agent from abusing their responsibilities.Medical POA A healthcare or medical power of attorney grants the Agent you appoint the authority to make decisions about your care if you are unable to do so.

Unless the power of attorney states otherwise, and they usually don't, a revocation of a POA must be made in writing. A verbal revocation may not be enough.A revocation will reference the existing POA and the current attorney-in-fact and revoke the document and the powers granted.

You can cancel (revoke) your durable power of attorney, but only when you are able (competent). You must sign a written document that says the durable power of attorney is revoked. You should sign the document in front of a notary public or two witnesses, but that is not required.

A medical power of attorney is a legal document that names one person the health care agent of another person. The agent has the ability to make health care decisions and the responsibility to make sure doctors and other medical personnel provide necessary and appropriate care according to the patient's wishes.

You can revoke a Medical Power of Attorney even if you cannot make your own medical decisions. To cancel it, you can: Tell the agent, in person or in writing,Sign a new Medical Power of Attorney.

Until an attorney-in-fact's powers are properly revoked, they can continue to legally act for the principal. To cancel a Power of Attorney, the principal can create a document called a Revocation of Power of Attorney or create a new Power of Attorney that indicates the previous Power of Attorney is revoked.