3. Learn about wishes related to personal care
Question & Answer
Do I need a Power of Attorney for Personal Care?Your can also include your wishes about personal care that you may or may not want. These are sometimes called advance care plans.
It can include things like:
- staying in your own home as long as possible
- respecting your religion when choosing food
- letting doctors use artificial life support if you have an illness you’ll die of
How your wishes are followed
If you become , your attorney or (SDM) must try to follow your wishes if they apply to the decision they have to make.
Your written wishes are not for doctors or medical staff to follow. They cannot act based on your wishes. Your doctors must get what’s called “informed consent” from your attorney or SDM before they give you any health care. Informed consent is agreeing to medical treatment after receiving information about the treatment.
