What is a Power of Attorney for Healthcare?

A power of attorney for healthcare allows you (the principal) to appoint someone (the agent) to obtain your protected health information and/or make healthcare decisions on your behalf. You can specify what kind of healthcare decisions the agent can make, including decisions regarding your end-of-life care and organ donation. Note that if you create both a power of attorney for healthcare and a living will (which tells doctors if you want death-delaying procedures), the power of attorney for healthcare will generally control.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), an agent with a power of attorney for healthcare may receive your protected health information, even without a standalone HIPAA release. This is because the agent will likely need access to your protected health information in order to make the best healthcare decisions for you.

Thickstun Luo LLC can help you create a power of attorney for healthcare to meet your estate planning needs in Illinois or Indiana. Contact us today for a consultation.

LEGALESE is an online blog by Thickstun Luo LLC. The blog explains legal terms and concepts in plain English.

Disclaimer: The LEGALESE blog and the posts therein do not form an attorney-client relationship between you and Thickstun Luo LLC. Furthermore, this blog is not intended to render legal advice regarding your specific situation. You should consult an attorney for specific legal advice. Some content in LEGALESE blog posts pertain to state-specific legal rules and concepts that may not be applicable in every jurisdiction.