Medical Power Of Attorney Illinois Rights

Power of attorney and health care general illinois.

Medical power of attorney illinois rights.

A living will lets a person establish end of life plans without the use of a surrogate to help guide medical staff as to their wishes. When unexpected illnesses injuries and emergency situations arise many people are surprised to discover that they don t automatically have a power of attorney for their spouse. You decide how much power to give the agent. A power of attorney allows a person known as a principal to appoint a representative or agent to manage their property and affairs in the event they are no longer able to do so for themselves.

In illinois there are two types of powers of attorney. In the event you do not want to use the illinois statutory form provided here any document you complete must be executed by you designate an agent who is over 18 years of age and not prohibited from serving as your agent and state the agent s powers but it need not be witnessed or conform in any other respect to the statutory health care power. The general assembly recognizes the right of the individual to control all aspects of his or her personal care and medical treatment including the right to decline medical treatment or to direct that it be withdrawn even if death ensues. An illinois medical power of attorney is a form used to designate another person to handle the health care needs of another person.

Use a health care poa when you are undergoing a medical procedure where you might be unable to make decisions for yourself. They would have full rights to be informed by your doctors of your condition and choose your course of treatment. It s important that you understand what your needs are so you can choose the right form. The form only becomes effective after the person is no longer able to speak for themselves.

During the time you are unable to make your decisions about your health care and treatment the medical power of attorney gives the person you name the legal power to speak for you. Authority to make choices for you about tests surgery or. Illinois statutory short form power of attorney for health care the state of illinois recognizes the right of adults to control all aspects of his or her personal care and medical treatment including the right to decline medical treatment or to direct that it be withdrawn even if death ensues. You must create the power of attorney while you are still able to make decisions for yourself.

At some point nearly everyone will need a power of attorney to represent them. But it s hard to know what a power of attorney is how to appoint the right one and what type of power of. In such an event the agent selected will make health care decisions on their behalf and instruct medical staff to the. You can t create a power of attorney after an injury or illness prevents you from making your own decisions.

This means that you must be mentally competent to create a power of attorney. Property and health care. While spouses inherently have certain rights and privileges to access joint property and make important medical decisions on their spouse s behalf there are some limitations to those rights.