Thread: Who's got a Medical enduring power of attorney?

I don't know about Victoria (AKA Mexico) but in the great state of QLD I have signed/witnessed a couple as a J.P.

Jonesfam
PS If you don't know the J.P. take a couple of pieces of ID.

Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

On my visit to hospital today they asked me if I had a " Medical enduring power of attorney" and informed me that unless I have a signed one then the government will make decisions for my medical welfare. It seems if I nominate Heather or a next of kin I have to get it notarized by a police officer, doctor, JP or Chemist and the like. these forms are downloadable. but when looking tonight the law changes on the 12th of March 2018 and I have to wait until then before it available on the web site,.

http://www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au...er-of-attorney

Yeah Sandi and i both have one on each other have had for a few years

We have them, too. In our case, it's our daughter who happens to be a doctor.

If you have more than one child, nominate one of them. Families can disagree over treatment which can delay it or prevent it. Having one nominee simplifies it all.

I have one for my mum, Mario. I have been spending some time with a lawyer lately, as Jan died intestate. I'll ask him if you like.


Make a will, people. If you don't you leave an absolute nightmare. Ask me how I know..

Originally Posted by johntins

I have one for my mum, Mario. I have been spending some time with a lawyer lately, as Jan died intestate. I'll ask him if you like.


Make a will, people. If you don't you leave an absolute nightmare. Ask me how I know..

wills can be contested.
not worth the paper their written on.

Originally Posted by Eevo

wills can be contested.
not worth the paper their written on.

Distraction from the subject yet again eevo & john tins. While johntins' post contained some good advice, the subject matter wasn't wills - it was about enduring powers of attorney (medical).

These are very different from wills.

Unlike a will they do not have the ongoing financial attraction to lawyers (like honey to bees) that wills seem to have.

I believe that these and "advanced care directives" are essential and they do actually carry some weight when it comes to making decisions about how far to go with treatment.

I know personally examples where heroic life-saving treatment decisions for people with substantial medical problems were left to medical staff.

One example I'm thinking of was the installation of a stoma/colostomy in an otherwise inert dementia patient with terminal cancer who had no prospect of any future quality of life.

In each case these decisions achieved the prolongation of life without any consideration of the quality of existence.

IMHO the DNR "do not resuscitate" tattoo that some medical professionals have on their chests says it all.

Yes had a POA for my mother and have one for my wife and vice versa.
Only in play when the other person is not able to make their own decisions.
Until then it is just paper.
The pending changes don’t void the current ones so if the current situation is pressing don’t delay.

We've got Medical POAs. Make sure that who ever you choose has the courage to do YOUR will in the event of a medical emergency and will not be swayed by medical or family opinion. This is your choise, as if you were conscious. Imagine waking up, unable to communicate in a nursing home, wearing a nappy and a feeding tube drilled into your belly; where you can die slowly over the next two years from complications, because someone in your family thought you desered every chance, when your express will was to just let you go in the event of some catastrophic stroke or heart attack.

Have discussions about YOUR will on all sorts of things, not just end of life decisions (inc organ donation), so your POA can make confident decisions about experimental drugs, amputations etc.

Also make sure that these documents are sorted while you are in a fit mental state. Someone with dementia cannot legally nominate a POA.

NOK in medical terms is a "motherhood statement". The NOK is consulted (sometimes), but has no authority to make decisions.