When you create a living will and outline your specific advance directives for your end of life measures, it is important you get a medical durable power of attorney. In this specific power of attorney document, you grant permission to your authorized healthcare agent to make medical decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated or unable to communicate. A medical durable power of attorney is different from a general power of attorney in that it only authorizes healthcare decisions. A general power of attorney is applicable to legal and financial affairs.
This is an important step because, in some states, no one is automatically authorized to make healthcare decisions for another adult. This applies to spouses, adult children, and other family members – they are not authorized to make medical decisions. The only one who can make decisions is your healthcare agent.