I have recently been asked about assisting with getting a man transferred from one treatment facility to another. The problem is that the lady asking for help is not the person named in the POA (power of attorney) that this gentleman executed several years ago. Another issue is that the person named as POA does not have a copy of the document and was unaware that he had been named. Additionally, he lives on the Pacific coast while the person needing assistance is on the Atlantic coast. Thankfully, the gentleman needing help is able to give consent to the move.
There are several problems in this scenario that could have been avoided. Always notify the person you name as your healthcare proxy and provide them with the original of the document. You should keep a copy for your own records. It is also advisable to name someone who is geographically close so that they can get to you quickly in the event you need to activate the healthcare proxy. The need to have someone make healthcare decisions on your behalf may occur suddenly (accident, stroke, loss of consciousness) or over a longer period of time. The person will not know if you need help if they only see you a couple of times a year and talk on the phone once or twice a month. If you have a sudden change in your condition, decisions will need to be made quickly.
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