Missouri Durable Power Of Attorney, Info???
Q: I think our version of a living will here (Queensland, Australia) is called an "Advanced Health Directive" and is a series of questions pertaining to life support, donation of organs etc etc, also called "special health matters", which comes into effect when the person becomes incapacitated in the future. This IS a legal document here, and has to be filled in by an adult of sound mind, and witnessed. Health care workers are given protection when they do not know this document exists, have reasonable grounds to belive that direction in a health directive is uncertain on contrary to good medical practice, or if the HCW complies with a purported exercise for a health matter by a person who represented that he or she has the right to exercise the power for the adult (an Enduring power of Attorney). Jehovah'sWitnesses are particularly fond of using these documents to prevent blood transfusions.
A: -Here (in Missouri) we have a two types of documents. 1. The "living will" is simply a document that spells out what the individual wants done. It is used as a resource and provides information - but has no actual legal standing. 2. The medical durable power of attorney (DPA) is a legal document which, if the patient is unable to make their own health care decisions, gives that authority to assigned person. -Federal law mandates asking people if they have an advance directive or medical power of attorney at the time the patient is admitted. A living will, as someone else said, has no legal power but it does express the patient's wishes in a terminal situation. The DPOA (durable power of attorney) is a legal document, pretty much the same format in all states but with slight variances, that the patient has signed to indicate who else can make decisions on her behalf, and what type(s) of treatment can be used. As someone else said, though, it's what the patient actually TELLS the family that counts. Here in Oregon, we have something called a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment). It is printed on neon pick card stock and is kept in the patient's home or living quarters (or, in a nursing home, on the chart). The patient's PCP signs it, indicating whether or not the patient is to receive CPR, intubation,