Your Living Will is a document that outlines your end-of-life care medical wishes. Your Medical Power of Attorney is the person you’ve entrusted to carry out those wishes and make other medical decisions in emergency situations if you’re unable to communicate on your own

You can choose almost anyone you want to be your Medical POA, but it’s important to choose someone you trust. Your agent should be familiar with your Living Will and be mentally competent so that he or she will understand a doctor’s medical explanations.

In most states, your health care provider or an employee of your health care provider cannot be your Medical POA.

No one wants to think about having to face a medical emergency in their lifetime, but it’s important to be prepared in advance with a Medical POA so that your doctors can take swift action — if necessary — to keep you safe and healthy.

Your Medical Power of Attorney can make decisions on your behalf only when you can’t make decisions for yourself. In fact, your doctor must say, in writing, that you are completely incapacitated. And you can revoke your Medical POA at any time.

In most cases, your Medical Power of Attorney agent can not agree to hospitalize you for mental health services, convulsive/psychosurgery treatments or an abortion, or refuse any type of care intended to make you more comfortable.