By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    bowl of vegetable salad
    Raw Foods: benefits and harms
    November 9, 2021
    pros and cons of the keto diet
    Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
    May 18, 2022
    spinal cord injuries
    4 Potential Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries (and How to Seek Compensation)
    May 25, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    July 31, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Effective Healthcare Requires a Social Approach
    June 15, 2015
    CCBHCs
    2016 Excellence in Behavioral Health Program Design
    February 23, 2016
    conducting Clinical Trial
    5 Tips for Conducting a Clinical Trial
    April 21, 2024
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Medical Power of Attorneys Affect Healthcare Outcomes
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > How Medical Power of Attorneys Affect Healthcare Outcomes
Policy & Law

How Medical Power of Attorneys Affect Healthcare Outcomes

There are a lot of things to consider when you are trying to get quality healthcare services including the importance of medical power of attorney.

Sean Mallon
Sean Mallon
Share
7 Min Read
Pixabay
SHARE

There are many things that you need to know when you are seeking healthcare services. You need to be an informed patient if you want to get quality care so you can have the best possible outcomes.

Contents
Getting Medical Treatment When IncapacitatedHow Power of Attorney Affects Child HealthcareChoosing the Right AgentShould Your POA Be Durable or Special?Conclusion

We talked about the benefits of improving patient engagement to get better healthcare outcomes. However, there are even more important factors to consider, such as knowing how to use medical power of attorneys.

Your inalienable health rights should be at the forefront of any medical decision in your name by yourself or others. A free medical power of attorney form can help you navigate this difficult topic at every stage. This is especially important if you plan for the possibility of entering a coma.

Getting Medical Treatment When Incapacitated

Your medical POA will decide who is in charge of your healthcare when you aren’t able to make these choices for yourself. This could be because of age-related memory problems or any loss of consciousness. If you cannot give informed consent for a test or treatment, your medical POA is essential for making sure you receive proper care.

More Read

obamacare deductibles
Schizophrenia About High Deductibles
Healthcare Breakthroughs: 3 Ways to Improve Your Chances of Fighting Obesity
The PCMH and Home Care Data: An Interview with Melissa McCormack
Give a Shot@Life for Mother’s Day
Minnesota Legislature Passes Major Healthcare Exchange Bill by Close Vote

Every single second counts when doctors (and possibly even surgeons) are waiting to begin the treatment that could possibly save your life. Without a power of attorney document at the ready, there will likely be serious delays at best. In many cases, the health team won’t even be able to conduct medical tests without your agent’s explicit approval.

You need a robust POA document that clearly sets out your wishes across a wide range of possibilities. It’s impossible to predict which medical emergencies will take you by surprise over the coming years and decades. While it might feel morbid to consider this, the only alternative is being potentially unprepared if you have a major health crisis.

How Power of Attorney Affects Child Healthcare

Generally speaking, parents have control over their child’s healthcare decisions until they’re an adult, though this varies slightly by state. If a parent is unable to give consent for treatment, their chosen agent will ensure the child gets adequate care. In some states, and only in specific situations, children can decide for themselves.

Your rights as a parent remain intact through a power of attorney, and you can still have the final say in major decisions. This is because an agent will argue your case and likely only take action in ways you would approve of. The child’s right to medical treatment that’s in their best interests will likewise remain.

The goal of a child’s POA is usually to reflect what a parent or guardian wants for their child. In these situations, they should select an agent who will advocate for treatment in accordance with their preferences. However, the child’s own autonomy must also be a factor; at the very least, an agent should ask for their opinion.

Choosing the Right Agent

Balancing your health rights with a medical POA requires you to choose your agent carefully. As they might be making life-or-death decisions on your behalf, make sure they know exactly what you would want. For example, if you end up in a vegetative state, your agent should know if you want to stay on life support.

Similarly, it has to be someone that you trust to fight for your preferences. This is usually a family member, though it may be anyone 18 or over who can give informed consent. However, in some states, your agent cannot be your healthcare provider. This is to prevent conflicts of interest with their Hippocratic Oath.

Your agent has to be someone who will advocate for your medical rights and let you control your future. It may also help to name several agents who will share responsibility for your care. Even someone who loves you could struggle with these decisions; and a second agent can veto ones you would disagree with.

Should Your POA Be Durable or Special?

A ‘durable’ power of attorney is one that takes effect when you’re incapacitated. This may seem like it already goes against your medical autonomy. However, it could be the only way to get the care you want and need. Alternatively, a ‘special’ power of attorney only takes effect in a specific scenario, such as certain treatments.

This might seem like a distinction without a difference, especially since a durable POA is usually dormant until the principal is incapacitated. However, you can still delegate medical decisions to an agent if you so wish. If you’re concerned about your health rights, a special power of attorney affords you more precise control over your care.

Though you might feel a special POA is better for your health rights, this can be a double-edged sword. These documents often lack general provisions for healthcare emergencies beyond their specific situations. Ultimately, you may still need to place your trust in somebody else to manage your healthcare, no matter the power of attorney type you choose.

Conclusion

It’s never easy to give up your medical autonomy, even when there is no other option. However, you can still use an online template to set up a power of attorney that fits your needs. This might be the only way to guarantee your safety in a medical crisis.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025

You Might also Like

eHealthHealth careTechnology

Big Data Analytics: Finding Healthcare in a New Frontier

September 28, 2017
racial disparities in healthcare
Health care

Why We Need to Address Racial Disparities in Maternal Health Care

June 7, 2021
Global HealthcareMedical DevicesTechnology

Bariatric Surgeries Per Country

August 11, 2011

How Big Data Hadoop Can Save Patients from a Crippling Healthcare System

July 28, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?