Texas ADVANCED DIRECTIVE:
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE AND LIVING WILL
Principal's Information
Principal's Full Name: _________
Date of Birth: _________
Address: _________
Telephone number: _________
Email address: _________
The Principal is completing this form in Texas.
I, _________, appoint:
Name: _________
Address: _________
Telephone Number: _________
Email address: _________
As my agent to make any and all health care decisions for me, except to the extent I state otherwise in this document.
This medical power of attorney takes effect if I become unable to make my own health care decisions, and this fact is certified in writing by my physician.
Effectiveness
This medical power of attorney takes effect immediately.
Limitations Of The Decision-Making Authority Of My Agent
My agent shall have the following limitations:
Agent's Powers
I have communicated my goals and wishes to my agent, who shall follow the instructions given in this document and the conversations we have had in preparing it. I grant my agent authority to make decisions about my health care according to these goals and wishes. If my instructions are unclear at any time, then my agent will decide based on what my agent believes to be in my best interests. My agent's authority to interpret my wishes and goals includes the following authority:
Provision of Life-Sustaining Procedures
If in the judgment of my physician, I am suffering from a terminal condition from which I am expected to die within six months, even with the available life-sustaining treatment provided in accordance with prevailing standards of medical care, I request that I be kept alive in this terminal condition using available life-sustaining treatment. (THIS SELECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO HOSPICE CARE)
IF IN THE JUDGMENT OF MY PHYSICIAN, I AM SUFFERING FROM AN IRREVERSIBLE CONDITION SO THAT I CAN NOT CARE FOR MYSELF OR MAKE DECISIONS FOR MYSELF AND AM EXPECTED TO DIE WITHOUT LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PREVAILING STANDARDS OF CARE, I REQUEST THAT I BE KEPT ALIVE IN THIS IRREVERSIBLE CONDITION USING AVAILABLE LIFE-SUSTAINING TREATMENT. (THIS SELECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO HOSPICE CARE)
Prior Designation Revoked
I revoke any prior medical power of attorney.
Safekeeping the document
The original of this document is kept at:
Name/Institution: _________
Address: _________
Telephone Number: _________
Email address: _________
The following individuals or institutions have signed copies of this document:
Name/Institution: _________
Address: _________
Telephone Number: _________
Email address: _________
Name/Institution: _________
Address: _________
Telephone Number: _________
Email address: _________
Duration
I understand that this power of attorney exists indefinitely from the date I execute this document unless I establish a shorter time or revoke the power of attorney. If I am unable to make health care decisions for myself when this power of attorney expires, the authority I have granted my agent continues to exist until the time I become able to make health care decisions for myself.
This power of attorney shall end upon my death.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
THIS MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY IS AN IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENT. BEFORE SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT, YOU SHOULD KNOW THESE IMPORTANT FACTS:
Except to the extent you state otherwise, this document gives the person you name as your agent the authority to make any and all health care decisions for you in accordance with your wishes, including your religious and moral beliefs, when you are no longer capable of making them yourself. Because "health care" means any treatment, service, or procedure to maintain, diagnose, or treat your physical or mental condition, your agent has the power to make a broad range of health care decisions for you.
Your agent may consent, refuse to consent, or withdraw consent to medical treatment and may make decisions about withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment. Your agent may not consent to voluntary inpatient mental health services, convulsive treatment, psychosurgery, or abortion. A physician must comply with your agent's instructions or allow you to be transferred to another physician.
Your agent's authority begins when your doctor certifies that you lack the competence to make health care decisions.
Your agent is obligated to follow your instructions when making decisions on your behalf. Unless you state otherwise, your agent has the same authority to make decisions about your health care as you would have if you were able to make health care decisions for yourself.
It is important that you discuss this document with your physician or other health care provider before you sign it to make sure that you understand the nature and range of decisions that may be made on your behalf. If you do not have a physician, you should talk with someone else who is knowledgeable about these issues and can answer your questions. You do not need a lawyer's assistance to complete this document, but if there is anything in this document that you do not understand, you should ask a lawyer to explain it to you.
The person you appoint as agent should be someone you know and trust. The person must be 18 years of age or older or a person under 18 years of age who has had the disabilities of minority removed. If you appoint your health or residential care provider (e.g., your physician or an employee of a home health agency, hospital, nursing home, or residential care home, other than a relative), that person has to choose between acting as your agent or as your health or residential care provider; the law does not allow a person to do both at the same time.
You should inform the person you appoint that you want the person to be your health care agent. You should discuss this document with your agent and your physician and give each a signed copy. You should indicate on the document itself the people and institutions who have signed copies. Your agent is not liable for health care decisions made in good faith on your behalf.
Once you have signed this document, you have the right to make health care decisions for yourself as long as you are able to make those decisions, and treatment cannot be given to you or stopped over your objection. You have the right to revoke the authority granted to your agent by informing your agent or your health or residential care provider orally or in writing, or by your execution of a subsequent medical power of attorney. Unless you state otherwise, your appointment of a spouse is revoked if your marriage is dissolved, annulled, or declared void.
This document may not be changed or modified. If you want to make changes to the document, you must execute a new medical power of attorney.
You may wish to designate an alternate agent in the event that your agent is unwilling, unable, or ineligible to act as your agent. If you designate an alternate agent, the alternate agent has the same authority to make health care decisions for you.
THIS MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY IS NOT VALID UNLESS:
1. YOU SIGN IT AND HAVE YOUR SIGNATURE ACKNOWLEDGED BEFORE A NOTARY PUBLIC; OR
2. YOU SIGN IT IN THE PRESENCE OF TWO COMPETENT ADULT WITNESSES.
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS MAY NOT ACT AS ONE OF THE WITNESSES:
1. The person you have designated as your agent.
2. A person related to you by blood or marriage.
3. A person entitled to any part of your estate after your death under a will or codicil executed by you or by operation of law.
4. Your attending physician.
5. An employee of your attending physician.
6. An employee of a health care facility in which you are a patient if the employee is providing direct patient care to you or is an officer, director, partner, or business office employee of the health care facility or of any parent organization of the health care facility.
7. A person who, at the time this power of attorney is executed, has a claim against any part of your estate after your death.
By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the information contained in the above disclosure statement.
I sign my name to this medical power of attorney on this ____________ at ____________, Texas.
__________________________
_________
STATEMENT AND SIGNATURE OF WITNESSES
I am not the person appointed as agent by this document. I am not related to the principal by blood or marriage. I would not be entitled to any portion of the principal's estate on the principal's death. I am not the attending physician of the principal or an employee of the attending physician. I have no claim against any portion of the principal's estate on the principal's death. Furthermore, if I am an employee of a health care facility in which the principal is a patient, I am not involved in providing direct patient care to the principal and am not an officer, director, partner, or business office employee of the health care facility or of any parent organization of the health care facility.
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