A power of attorney for health care means a power of attorney document that authorizes an adult person to make health care decisions for the principal when the principal is incapable
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All references made in accordance with Oregon Revised Statues
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According to Oregon law, an Advance directive means a document that contains a Health Care Instruction or a Power of Attorney for Health Care.
Power of Attorney for Health Care
A Power of Attorney for health care means a power of attorney document that authorizes an adult person to make health care decisions for the principal when the principal is incapable.
The power of attorney for health care is effective when it is signed, witnessed and accepted by your attorney in fact (Agent).
The health care representative (Agent) has all the authority over the Principal’s health care that the principal would have if not incapable, subject to the limitations of the appointment.
A health care representative who is known to the health care provider to be available to make health care decisions has priority over any person other than the principal to act for the principal in all health care decisions.
A health care representative is not personally responsible for the cost of health care provided to the principal solely because the health care representative makes health care decisions for the principal.
Except to the extent the right is limited by the appointment or any federal law, a health care representative for an incapable principal has the same right as the principal to receive information regarding the proposed health care, to receive and review medical records and to consent to the disclosure of medical records.
In making health care decisions, the health care representative has a duty to act consistently with the desires of the principal as expressed in the principal’s advance directive, or as otherwise made known by the principal to the health care representative at any time. If the principal’s desires are unknown, the health care representative has a duty to act in what the health care representative in good faith believes to be the best interests of the principal.
Execution of a valid power of attorney for health care revokes any prior power of attorney for health care. Unless the health care instruction provides otherwise, execution of a valid health care instruction revokes any prior health care instruction.
A health care decision made by an individual who is authorized to make the decision under ORS 127.505 to 127.660 and 127.995 is effective immediately and does not require judicial approval.
Limitations on Power of Attorney-in-Fact:
Oregon law does not authorize an appointed health care representative to make a health care decision with respect to any of the following on behalf of the principal:
- Admission to or retention in a health care facility for care or treatment of mental illness.
- Convulsive treatment.
- Psychosurgery.
- Sterilization.
- Abortion.
- Withholding or withdrawing of a life-sustaining procedure unless:
- The appointed health care representative has been given authority to make decisions on withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining procedures; or
- The principal has been medically confirmed to be in one of the following conditions:
- A terminal condition.
- Permanently unconscious.
- A condition in which administration of life-sustaining procedures would not benefit the principal’s medical condition and would cause permanent and severe pain.
- A progressive, debilitating illness that will be fatal and is in its advanced stages, and the principal is consistently and permanently unable to communicate, swallow food and water safely, care for the principal, and recognize the principal’s family and other people, and there is no reasonable chance that the principal’s underlying condition will improve. (Oregon Revised Statutes 127.505 to 127.660 and 127.995).
- Withholding or withdrawing artificially administered nutrition and hydration, other than hyper alimentation, necessary to sustain life except as provided in Oregon Revised Statutes 127.580.
The Oregon Power of Attorney for Health Care may be revoked at any time and in any manner by a capable principal. Execution of a valid power of attorney for health care revokes any prior power of attorney for health care.
Unless the health care instruction provides otherwise, execution of a valid health care instruction revokes any prior health care instruction.
Unless the power of attorney for health care provides otherwise, valid appointment of an attorney-in-fact for health care supersedes:
- Any power of a guardian or other person appointed by a court to make health care decisions for the protected person; and
- Any other prior appointment or designation of a health care representative.
Unless the power of attorney for health care expressly provides otherwise, a power of attorney for health care is suspended:
- If both the attorney-in-fact and the alternative attorney-in-fact have withdrawn; or
- If the power of attorney names the principal’s spouse as attorney-in-fact, a petition for dissolution or annulment of marriage is filed and the principal does not reaffirm the appointment in writing after the filing of the petition.
If the principal has both a valid health care instruction and a valid power of attorney for health care, and the directions reflected in those documents are inconsistent, the document last executed governs to the extent of the inconsistency.
Any reinstatement of an advance directive must be in writing. [1989 c.914 §9; 1993 c.571 §26a; 1993 c.767 §12]
If there is anything about Oregon Power of Attorney for Health Care that you do not understand, you should ask a lawyer to explain it to you.
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To better understand the health care and pecuniary related issues our legal articles, frequently asked questions, facts and other law related information may be of interest to you.
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