What is a Medical Power of Attorney in Texas?
A Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA) in Texas is a legal document that appoints someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as being in a coma, having a serious illness, or being mentally incapacitated.
Why do you need a Medical Power of Attorney?
You may want to consider getting an MPOA if you have any of the following concerns:
- You want to ensure that your medical wishes are carried out, even if you are unable to communicate them.
- You want to avoid the stress and burden on your loved ones of having to make difficult medical decisions for you.
- You want to designate someone who you trust to make decisions about your end-of-life care.
What does a Medical Power of Attorney do?
Your MPOA can make decisions about your medical care, including:
- Whether or not to receive life-sustaining treatment, such as a feeding tube or a ventilator
- Whether or not to undergo surgery
- What type of pain management to receive
- Where to receive medical care
Who can be your Medical Power of Attorney?
Your MPOA can be any adult who is of sound mind and not under guardianship. This could be a spouse, child, parent, sibling, friend, or other trusted individual.
How do you create a Medical Power of Attorney in Texas?
You can create an MPOA by:
- Hiring an attorney to draft the document for you
- Using a pre-printed form that is available from your doctor's office or online
- Completing a do-it-yourself form that is available online
Important things to know about Medical Power of Attorney:
- Your MPOA should be signed and witnessed by two people.
- You should give a copy of your MPOA to your doctor, your family, and your friends.
- You can revoke your MPOA at any time.
- If you do not have an MPOA, your next of kin will be responsible for making medical decisions for you.
A few additional things to consider:
- You may want to name an alternate MPOA in case your primary MPOA is unable or unwilling to serve.
- You may want to specify your wishes regarding end-of-life care in your MPOA.
- You may want to review your MPOA with your attorney every few years to ensure that it is still up-to-date.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
P.S. If you're really not sure who to appoint as your MPOA, you could always ask your dog. They're always there for you, and they're never judgmental.