Do You know about POA papers?

United States
May 21, 2009 8:01pm CST
I would just like to talk a bit about POA papers for your loved one or your self. POA means Personal Power of Attorney. These papers may pertain to financial or health, I would like to discuss the health POA. I can only stress how IMPORTANT to have an POA if you are just living with your loved one,if your parent is ill,a sister or brother that remains unmarried. Without these papers you may obtain no medical information on your loved one if a medical emergency should happen.Also you will not be able to speak for them if they are unable or if they are confused.Then the doctors etc, can just run test after test,procedure after procedure and some of this maybe very unnecessary. Think I am joking? Think again! I was POA of my loved one whom I was not married to, and I am so thankful because you just would not believe what the medical profession is really out for(not ALL but ALOT!) his primary doctor was great--but the rest were out for the $$$$. And not his welfare! I will write more later on this in a blog. So tell me what you think--or do you have any questions?
1 response
spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
22 May 09
I agree with you because not having a POA can also cost you your life. My youngest daughter's father and I were never married but we lived together for several years. After we separated he told me one evening that he had fallen and hit his head the day before and still had a bad headache. I told him to go to the hospital but he refused so I kept in touch with him. He didn't improve for 10 days and, when I couldn't reach him on the 11th day, I went over there. He was laying halfway off the bed, couldn't move and one pupile was dialated so I called 911. At the hospital I was told that he had a large hematoma (blood clot) in his brain and needed surgery immediately but I couldn't sign because I was not his wife so the doctor called his parents. After the doctor argued with his mother for about five minutes I asked to speak to her. She was afraid to agree because she didn't know what to do, whether he'd be mad at her or not and I had to be quite blunt, telling her that he was going to die any minute if they didn't operate. So, she finally agreed but the delay could have been avoided with a POA. My husband and I have living wills and we both have primary POAs as well as secondary POAs incase something happens to both of us at the same time.