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Guide to Completing Michigan Durable Power of Attorney
Anyone who is 18 years old and of sound mind may write a Durable Power Of Attorney For Healthcare. This means you may voluntarily elect an advocate to make medical care, custody and treatment decisions for you if you become unable to express your medical care wishes.
STEP 1: Let people know your feelings and your use of the Durable Power Of Attorney for Healthcare. Talk to family, friends, your physician, your attorney (if you have one), or any one else who might be affected by your decision to use the Durable Power Of Attorney for Healthcare.
STEP 2: Consider the kinds of treatment decisions which might need to be made for you in the future, and what your wishes would be. You can say what kinds of treatments you want or don't want after talking to your physician.
STEP 3: Name a person you trust to speak on your behalf when you can't express your healthcare wishes. Your advocate will work with your doctors or other care providers to make the same kinds of decisions that you could have made for yourself, based on your expressed wishes. You may name a "Successor Advocate" if the first person you name is unable to act as your advocate when the time comes.
STEP 4: Fill out a
the Advance Directive/Durable Power of Attorney form. Sign and date it and have
two impartial witnesses sign and date it. There is a legal copy of these
documents on this website. You don't need an attorney to fill out the Durable Power Of Attorney for Healthcare Form; however, you might want to consult an attorney for guidance, or if you have questions.
STEP 5: If you are empowering your advocate to make decisions to withhold or withdraw treatment, thus allowing you to die, then your Durable Power of Attorney For Healthcare must specifically say that. You may include a statement such as, "I authorize (name your patient advocate) to make a decision to withhold or withdraw treatment which could or would allow me to die. I acknowledge that such a decision could or would allow me to die." The statement should appear in the space provided for recording your personal preferences regarding care, custody and medical treatment. You may also want to specify life-sustaining treatment you want or don't want, including artificial nutrition and hydration.
STEP 6: Your Durable Power Of Attorney for Healthcare designation must be in writing, signed by you, witnessed by people who are not relatives or interested parties to your will or estate, or hospital staff, and it must be dated and executed voluntarily. The witnesses only sign the Durable Power Of Attorney for Healthcare if you are of sound mind and are not under duress, fraud, or undue influence to designate a Durable Power Of Attorney for Healthcare.
STEP 7: Keep
the original signed copy in a locked, fireproof box in your home. Have
a copy made for you and your patient advocate. Give a copy for copy to your physician and spiritual leader, and have a copy to take to the hospital. Copies are accepted at McLaren Greater Lansing.
STEP 8: Before acting as a patient advocate, the proposed patient advocate must sign an acceptance to your Durable Power Of Attorney for Healthcare. Make your Durable Power Of Attorney for Healthcare and the advocate acceptance statement part of your medical record. |