Preparing for medical emergencies and assigning who you can rely on is critical.
General Information
You never know when a medical emergency will occur. Having a Health Care Power of Attorney and/or an Advance Directive will protect your wishes in a medical crisis even if you are unable to communicate.
Health Care Power of Attorney
When there is a medical emergency that leaves you unable to make your own medical decisions, the hospital will contact parents or closest relatives. You may want other people to make these decisions for you. Assigning a person to make these health care decisions on your behalf is known as a Health Care Power of Attorney (or Health Care Proxy).
Your Health Care Power of Attorney will be in charge of making medical decisions such as what procedures you will have if you wish to donate organs (unless you are already an organ donor), and what lifesaving measures you prefer. This person can be anyone over the age of 18. Identify a person who you would trust to make these decisions. Talk with the person you would like to designate to ask if they feel comfortable representing your wishes. Make sure you select another person to be your back up in case the person you picked is unable or unwilling.
Advance Directive
An Advance Directive is a legal document, which gives instructions about the health care treatment you want in a medical emergency. If you become too ill to make choices, this form will help your family members know what your medical wishes are so they do not have to guess. Anyone who is 18 or older may use the form. If you are under 18, you can have an advance directive, but need to explore your options with your caseworker. Once you have completed an Advance Directive you want to give copies to your physician, hospital, family, and your Health Care Power of Attorney (if you have one). Keep a copy in a safe place in case someone needs to get it in an emergency.
Example of How This Works
A youth who has recently transitioned out of foster care gets into an automobile accident. He is unconscious and cannot make his own medical decisions. The doctors contact his Health Care Power of Attorney who already has his advance directive. The Health Care Power of Attorney follows his Advance Directive while he is unconscious. A person without a Health Care Power of Attorney or Advance Directive would not have someone they trust carrying out their medical treatment decisions.
Resources
You can learn more about health care proxies, the advance directive form, and print one out at www.maine.gov/ag/dynld/documents/AHCD_Form_July20_2004.pdf