b'medical treatments you would or would not in a wide range of situations, regardless ofliketoreceiveduring yourlifetimeinthe whether the grantor is incapacitated or not.event of incapacitation, whether mentally or Unless restricted in the governing document, aphysically. For example, with a living will, durable power of attorney allows the individualyou may direct that if you were in the end-stage holding the POA to do everything the grantingof a terminal disease, you would want life- individual has the power to doincludingprolonging procedures be withheld or withdrawn buying real estate and managing a bankwhen the application of such procedures would account. A properly executed durable powerserve only to articially prolong the process of attorney can be used in the case of a personof dying. Most states require a living will be who is having trouble balancing their check-witnessed by two people, one of whom may book or it can be used if an individual is in anot be a family member, but it is necessary coma and needs to sell their house. A durableto check the requirements of your particular power of attorney provides the widest grantjurisdiction.of authority and is the most versatile. Power of attorney While most jurisdictions will recognize aAnother nontestamentary document that is durable power of attorney as valid in auseful, especially to those with disabilities, is a healthcare setting, others require a specialpower of attorney. It is a bit more complicated document known as a healthcare power ofbecause there are a dierent types: a specic/ attorney or healthcare surrogate designation inlimited power of attorney, a durable power of order for another to make medical decisionsattorney, and a healthcare power of attorney. for you. Like a durable power of attorney, aNotably, an individual can have all three types healthcare power of attorney (or surrogate)of power of attorney documents held by three canstillmakehealthcarechoicesforyoudierentpeopleoranindividualcanjust even if you are incapacitated. choose one person for everything. Deciding to donate organs is a personalTypically, a limited or specific power of choice that should be shared freely with yourattorney grants a narrow right to stand in healthcareprovidersandfamily.Uniformanothers shoes. For example, an individual can donor forms are accepted in all jurisdictionsassign the right to le taxes to an accountant, regardless of whether an individual makesand that accountant is only permitted to le an indication on a drivers license, and eventhat individuals taxes, nothing more, while allow an individual to specify what organsthat individual is competent and alive. This are to be donated. For example, an individualtype of power of attorney is restricted to the can direct that their body be used in anatomicalspecics of the grant of authority so that the studies for medical students at a particularperson who holds the POA can only do one university. The donation of organs helps societyspecic task or enumerated tasks. It may be as a whole, but it is necessary to discuss yourrevoked by the individual granting the power wishes and even provide a completed copyby incapacitation, death, or simply if the of a donor form to your physicians and familyindividual has a change of heart. so that there are no misunderstandings.Obviously, a donation is only made in theA durable power of attorney grants an event of death, and you can change yourindividual the right to stand in anothers shoes mind before then. 25 msfocusmagazine.org'