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If you’re reading this, then chances are you or someone you love is in a nursing home. A healthcare power of attorney is an important legal step for your loved one and our nursing home abuse lawyer Bartlett can help. Contact Carlson Bier Associates at 312-622-2900 for a consultation.
This can be an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved, but it’s important to know your rights as a resident and the appropriate steps that need to be taken in order to protect yourself and your loved ones.
What is a Healthcare Power of Attorney?
A Healthcare Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to make healthcare decisions for you. This document is used in the event that you are unable or unwilling to make your own decisions regarding medical treatment, and would otherwise be unable to communicate your wishes regarding your medical care.
If you do not have a Health Care Power of Attorney, then your family member or loved one(s) must request permission from a court before certain medical procedures can be performed on you. Having an official Healthcare Power of Attorney ensures that any medical decisions can be made quickly and easily by someone designated by you in advance.
There should be no question about what should happen if something happens to cause harm or injury during treatment at a nursing home facility. If you need a nursing home abuse lawyer Bartlett to assist you, contact Carlson Bier Associates today.
Who Needs a Health Care Power of Attorney?
If you’re elderly, disabled or incapacitated in some way, then you need a health care power of attorney. If you’re unconscious or comatose, your doctor will likely ask for a health care power of attorney as part of the process of trying to determine what’s wrong with your body and how best to treat it. In this case, your family and friends may need to step in on behalf of the person who is unable to make their own decisions about treatment.
Alzheimer’s disease can cause people to lose their ability over time. Dementia is another condition that causes mental decline. These conditions are often accompanied by changes in behavior as well as physical problems such as an inability to walk easily or eat unassisted. People with diminished mental capacity will benefit from having someone else look after them without having their wishes disregarded. An attorney can ensure these are set up for you and our nursing home abuse lawyer Bartlett can help.
What Is the Difference Between a Health Care Power of Attorney and a Living Will?
A living will is a document that states your wishes regarding medical treatment. It can be created at any time, but is most useful when it reflects your current wishes. A living will tells your health care professional what end of life procedures you want used if you have a terminal condition and are unable to state your wishes. A living will, unlike a health care power of attorney, only applies if you have a terminal condition.
A health care power of attorney is a document that appoints someone to make decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. A health care power of attorney can be used to appoint an individual or entity as your agent under which they can make medical decisions on your behalf if necessary. However, this does not prevent them from making independent decisions about your own care based upon their understanding of the situation and what they know about your preferences for treatment.
Whatever the circumstances, these legal documents need to be adhered to for those living in a nursing home. If they have violated your family member’s rights by disregarding legal documents, our nursing home abuse lawyer Bartlett is here to help.
Consult our nursing home abuse lawyer Bartlett if legal medical documents have not been honored
If you are in a nursing home and do not have a health care power of attorney in place, you need to get it done now. The process of setting up a power of attorney for health care is an involved one that requires the guidance and assistance of an attorney.
Once you have the legal documents in place that specify your medical wishes, nursing homes need to honor them. If they fail to do so, you may have a claim and our nursing home abuse lawyer Bartlett is here to pursue justice for you. Contact Carlson Bier Associates today.
