How does my agent for the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care know what to do?
You tell them in writing. When you make a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, you tell the agent your wishes and the agent must comply:
State when you do or do not want your doctors to use machines to keep you alive;
State when you do or do not want to be hooked up to feeding tubes that provide you with food and water;
Tell your agent how you want your body disposed of when you die;
State whether you want to donate any organs; and
Name a person you want to be your legal guardian, if necessary.
What happens if I do not have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?
If you do not have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and are physically or mentally unable to tell your doctors what you want, the following people, in order of priority, are legally authorized to make your health care decisions for you:
Your court-appointed guardian or conservator;
Your spouse or domestic partner;
Your adult child;
Your adult sibling;
A close friend; or
Your nearest living relative.