Some people want nothing more than to have their closest family members present when they experience some kind of medical emergency. Others loathe the idea that their estranged parents or the spouse that abandoned them might show up at the hospital when there is some kind of medical emergency.
Adults who create estate plans can control what happens to their property when they die and can also influence what happens to their bodies and their property when they experience medical incapacitation, like a coma. Could a medical power of attorney help you keep unwanted family members away from you when you are in the hospital and unable to be your own advocate?
Power of attorney can help someone uphold your wishes
If you do not have medical power of attorney documents in place, your spouse may be the only person with the ability to talk to doctors or make decisions about your health care. If you haven’t seen each other in months because you are separated but not yet divorced, you wouldn’t want them making decisions about the treatment that you undergo.
You can name an agent to act on your behalf in your medical power of attorney and provide them with information about your wishes. Those wishes could include instructions to keep certain family members or all family members away from your hospital room or where you undergo treatment.
Since they have the authority to act on your behalf and proof of your preferences in the matter, the person you authorized to act on your behalf can potentially prevent your family members from entering your treatment room.
Thorough estate plans benefit those with complicated family situations
The more complex and unique your family circumstances are, the more important it becomes for you to have a thorough estate plan. After all, your family members will inherit everything from your estate if you don’t indicate otherwise in a will or trust. You also run the risk of people who may not act in your best interests being the only ones with authority to speak regarding the medical care that you receive unless you plan ahead.
Adding powers of attorney to your estate plan will give you peace of mind when you have an unusual family situation that would affect your medical wishes or the distribution of your property after you’re done.