As you create a health care power of attorney, you’ll have to make a variety of high level decisions. Among the most important is naming a health care agent.
In short, your agent is the person who will make important health care decisions if you are unable to do so on your own. This person is staffed with a big responsibility, so you need to be confident that he or she has what it takes to act in the appropriate manner.
Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing a health care agent:
— Trust. Can you trust the person to carry out your wishes?
— Assertiveness. Your health care agent must be assertive, as this will ensure that your medical decisions are carried out as you have outlined.
— Proximity to where you live. It’s not required that your health care agent live near by, but it can be difficult for him or her to make quick and efficient decisions if they’re not in the area.
— Age and health. It goes without saying that you want to name a health care agent who will be around to make decisions on your behalf. Don’t choose somebody who is older than you and unhealthy.
These may not be the only factors to consider when choosing a health care agent, but they are definitely among the most important.
You probably have a few ideas in mind regarding who you could potentially name as your health care agent. As long as you’re confident in your decision, as long as you follow the legal process for naming the agent, everything will work out.
Source: FindLaw, “Selecting Your Health Care Agent,” accessed March 03, 2017
