Question

Creating a living will and/or advanced directive and designating a power of attorney are all important measures to help with decisions about your health care if you are compromised is some way, and can not make decisions independently.

Is there a certain age at which you should create a living will or advanced directive?

Under what circumstances should you designate a power of attorney?

Would you volunteer to take on the responsibility of power of attorney or accept the responsibility if asked? Why? or Why not?

Answer 1

A living will or advanced directives consists of legal documents that documents an individual wishes about the treatment and healthcare services he wants to receive when he is not competent to make the decisions for himself.
power of attorney or a health proxy is a person chosen to make healthcare decisions on the behalf of client ehen the client fails to do by himself.
In most of the country's a person creating a living will should be above 18 years of age. After 18 year one may creatd his living will at any point of time or appoint a power of attorney. Accidents and diseases can affect anyone at anytime so one may create his living will anytime he wants once he crosses the legal age required.
A power of attorney is appointed when one feels that he or she may not be competent enough to make the healthcare decisions himself such as in cases of chronic illness like cancers. A living will sometimes may lack certain directives or may not be in accordance with the situation. In such times power of attorney helps in making the legal decisions on behalf of the patient.
Yes if asked I would definitely assume the role of power of attorney. But I will make sure that I know and understand the client's thought process and nature completely so that the decisions made by me are in accordance to his will. I will try to sort put and make it clear with client sbout his thoughts on resuscitation, palliative care, use of life support treatment. This will guide me when making decisions for my client.