A Medical Durable Power of Attorney allows you to establish a process so that medical care decisions can be made which are consistent with your wishes, when you are no longer able to express those wishes directly to your doctor or family.

It is a legal document in which you name someone else called a “ Healthcare Agent“ to make health care decisions for you if you can’t make them, even if you are not terminally ill. The HIPAA provisions, (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act) allow your agent to get copies of your medical records and other information in order to make medical decisions for you.

You may appoint anyone to be your health care agent so long as that person is at least 18 years old, mentally competent and willing to serve as your agent. Your agent doesn’t’ need to live in Colorado, but it usually makes things more convenient. You should also name a second person to serve in case the first person can’t.

It’s important to talk with your agent, your doctor and your family about what you would want, in the event you are incapacitated, about your medical care choices and your Medical Durable Power of Attorney.

If you would like to discuss any of these issues, please call Attorney Meg Goblet at 719-686-9700 for a free, confidential appointment.