Medical POA's

[Tybee]

We did all that POA stuff with an attorney when we did our will and our trust. But these documents are somewhat general unless one gets very very specific, so I look at it as a useful conversation with DH as much as my actual codified wishes. There are so many medical decisions, nuanced, that a document will not specifically cover.

My general sentiment:

1st goal: no pain

2nd goal: speed along a hasty death, do not drag it on

The 3 I have been involved with in Maine--one was a PULST for my mother, outlined what we wanted and did not want and was pretty specific. It was the form provided by the hospital, not by the attorney. They notarized it at the hospital both times we did them there before operations, and they filed it in the electronic records, or at least they said they did. It went over things like life support, hydration, anti-biotics, care if you had dementia, etc. It's good to use theirs and talk it over specifically with the person you are appointing POA so they know what you want.