Medical Health Care Power Of Attorney Vs Advance Directive For Healthcare

Both are known in legal terms as advance directives generally the law addresses.

Medical health care power of attorney vs advance directive for healthcare.

Advance directive is the general term that refers to the various documents that could include a living will instruction directive health care proxy or health care power of attorney. This is someone you trust to make health care decisions for you. A medical power of attorney and a financial power of attorney are typically created in separate legal documents. In some states this directive may also be called a durable power of attorney for health care or a health care proxy.

A maryland law called the health care decisions act says that you can do health care planning through advance directives an advance directive can be used to name a health care agent. A health care directive may provide either specific or more general direction as to an individual s health care wishes. Advance directives are legally binding and tell doctors what life extending measures you want taken or not taken if you are unable to communicate. A living will or instruction directive alerts medical professionals and your family to the treatments you want to receive or refuse.

An advance directive can also be used to say what your preferences. A medical or health care power of attorney is a type of advance directive in which you name a person to make decisions for you when you are unable to do so. Specific health care directives clearly anticipate and give directions relating to treatment for the specific circumstances that exist whereas general health care directives serve as guidelines for future decision making.