Health Care Directives and Durable Powers of Attorney in Texas

Health Care Directives and Durable Powers of Attorney
Living Wills - a living will in Texas is called a "Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates." Also known as a health care declaration, the purpose of this document is to describe your health care wishes, such as whether or not to receive certain medical treatments in the event you are too sick or incapacitated to communicate the specific wishes on your own.
Health Care Directives - called a "Medical Power of Attorney" in Texas, this document names a person to be responsible for making medical decisions on your behalf in the event you are unable to communicate on your own. The person named, often referred to as the agent, is given the authority to make decisions such as refusing or discontinuing medical treatment, or even decision regarding life-sustaining treatments.
Durable Powers of Attorney - is a written document created by an individual (the "principal") that gives authority to another person (called the "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") to make business and financial decisions on the principal's behalf, including the authority to sign legally binding documents. A durable power of attorney can be effective upon execution, or can come into (i.e. "spring" into) effect upon the occurrence of a specified medical incapacity or other event.
Living Wills - a living will in Texas is called a "Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates." Also known as a health care declaration, the purpose of this document is to describe your health care wishes, such as whether or not to receive certain medical treatments in the event you are too sick or incapacitated to communicate the specific wishes on your own.
Health Care Directives - called a "Medical Power of Attorney" in Texas, this document names a person to be responsible for making medical decisions on your behalf in the event you are unable to communicate on your own. The person named, often referred to as the agent, is given the authority to make decisions such as refusing or discontinuing medical treatment, or even decision regarding life-sustaining treatments.
Durable Powers of Attorney - is a written document created by an individual (the "principal") that gives authority to another person (called the "agent" or "attorney-in-fact") to make business and financial decisions on the principal's behalf, including the authority to sign legally binding documents. A durable power of attorney can be effective upon execution, or can come into (i.e. "spring" into) effect upon the occurrence of a specified medical incapacity or other event.