Although millions of Americans have signed living wills and power-of-attorney documents, thinking the papers would help them avoid unwanted treatment and prolonged deaths, in many cases those measures turn out to be useless.
(AP) SCIENCE/HEALTH Deficiencies in Care of Dying Millions of Americans have signed living wills and power-of-attorney documents, thinking the papers would help them avoid unwanted treatment and prolonged deaths, but in many cases those measures turn out to be useless.
They signed living wills and durable power-of-attorney documents for health care.
In both cases, the couples had prepared for a medical emergency, creating living wills, advanced directives and power-of-attorney documents.
Many of their patients, despite multiple chronic diseases and advanced age, have never filled out power-of-attorney documents or appointed someone to make health care decisions if they are unable to.
The ideal, of course, is for parents to make plans, sign power-of-attorney documents, update lists of income and assets, and talk to adult children about all this long before they need help.
Only then did they learn that her nursing home, in Delray Beach, Fla., had never sent her living will or power-of-attorney document to the hospital.
Next, ClosingStream posts a personal identification number and a power-of-attorney document on the Web site for the borrowers to download and sign in front of a notary public.
Whether an attorney-in-fact — meaning the person appointed by the power-of-attorney document to act on another's behalf — has a duty to keep other heirs and siblings informed will depend on how the document is worded, the applicable state law and the facts of the situation.
For every $110 charged for power of attorney documents, $75 came under Mr. Perez's discretionary control, they said.
